TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25
jUL-7 f^0:08
SENATE 
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 19 and Article XII, Section 1 highlight the constitutional 
mandate to promote inclusive economic growth by addressing unemployment and 
underdevelopment, particularly in rural areas, where many Filipinos still live in poverty 
and lack access to decent work. Strengthening rural employment directly supports 
national goals of equity, productivity, and poverty alleviation.
According to a recent report by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the national 
unemployment rate increased to 4.1% in April 2025, translating to over 2 million 
jobless Filipinos. Many of these individuals reside in rural communities where access 
to stable employment remains limited due to a lack of industries, infrastructure, and 
investment.
There is a decline in the promotion of inclusive growth due to concentrated 
development in cities leaving rural regions behind. Providing jobs in the countryside 
promotes equitable growth and reduces the urban-rural development gap. This 
situation underscores the urgency of bringing livelihood programs, agricultural 
support, and rural enterprise development to these areas to curb migration to urban


centers, promote inclusive growth, and ensure that rural populations are not left 
behind in the country's economic recovery efforts.
Given these circumstances, the proposed bill aims to offer temporary 
employment to eligible members of poor households in rural areas who are willing to 
engage in unskilled manual labor for a specified period. Local Social Welfare and 
Development Officers will be responsible for assessing all interested poor, 
disadvantaged, or displaced individuals, including seasonal workers who express a 
desire to participate in the program.
This situation highlights the urgent need for the passage of the Rural 
Employment Assistance Bill, which seeks to establish well-paid, sustainable 
employment programs in rural areas. Through this measure, the government can 
promote inclusive growth, ease the strain on urban centers, and uplift disadvantaged 
communities across the country.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly recommended.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
'25 JUL-7 A1iO -08
SENATE 
S. No. 177
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shaii be known as the "Rural Employment
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Assistance Program Act of2025."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a deciared poiicy of the State to promote a
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just and dynamic sociai order that wiii ensure the prosperity and independence of the
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nation and free the peopie from poverty through poiicies that provide adequate sociai
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services, promote fuii empioyment, a rising standard of iiving, and an improved quaiity
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of iife for aii. Towards this end, the State shaii provide Fiiipinos with opportunities for
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just and sufficient means of iiveiihood. The State shaii iikewise initiate meaningfui
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empioyment assistance programs to quaiified individuais of poor, disadvantaged or
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dispiaced househoids in rurai areas duiy identified by the appropriate nationai
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agencies.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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(a) Displaced worker refers to a worker in the formai and informai sectors who
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became unempioyed, underempioyed, or have iost iiveiihood as a resuit of
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ciosure of estabiishment, economic crisis, retrenchment, termination, naturai
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disaster or caiamities;


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(b) Poor refers to individuals and families whose income fall below the poverty 
threshold as defined by the government and/or cannot afford in a sustained 
manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, 
housing and other essential amenities of life, or those who have been identified 
as poor by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction 
(NHTS-PR);
(c) 
Qualified individual refers to willing and able Filipino citizens who are at least 
fifteen (15) years of age: Provided, That, individuals between the ages fifteen 
(15) and eighteen (18) may only qualify by first obtaining consent from their 
parent/s and/or legal guardian, and can only be employed in non-hazardous 
work environments in accordance with the Labor Code;
(d) Rural area refers to any barangay with at least fifty percent (50%) land devoted 
to agriculture, timberland, forest and/or pasture land as determined by the 
Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the concerned local government unit (LGU); 
and
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(e) Seasonal worker refers to a worker who performs work or service that is only
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for a specific period of time or season of the year.
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Sec. 4. Rural Employment Assistance Program. - There is hereby created a 
Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) under the Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE), which shall provide temporary employment to qualified 
individuals who are poor, disadvantaged, displaced or seasonal workers willing to work 
for a minimum of ten (10) days, but not more than ninety (90) days in a calendar year 
wherein the minimum and maximum period of engagement can cover a single activity 
or multiple activities spread out over the course of a calendar year.
Individuals employed under the REAP are not subject to the terms and 
conditions of reguiar employment, and as such, shall not be deemed to have 
employer-employee relationship with the DOLE, or any agency or institution who 
utilizes their services with respect to the program.


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Sec. 5. Qualifications for Availment of Employment Assistance. - The Local 
Social Welfare and Development Officers (LSWDOs), in close coordination with DOLE 
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD), shall conduct an 
assessment and survey of all poor, disadvantaged or displaced individuals who signify 
interest in undertaking work under the REAP. The assessment shall also take into 
consideration the inherent knowledge, skills, capacities, and capabilities of potential 
qualified participants so as to properly determine the type and nature of projects that 
are most suited to them and their respective communities.
The DOLE shall facilitate basic knowledge and skills orientation, including 
briefings on minimum public health standards and protocols in relation to the COVID- 
19 pandemic, and capacity-building trainings and seminars as deemed necessary 
towards project development for qualified participants. The LGUs and program 
partners concerned may make available for use any tools and equipment necessary 
for project development to the qualified individuals.
Sec. 6. Types of Works and Activities under the Program. - Employment 
activities for this purpose shall be designed to mobilize eligible individuals, families, 
and communities to finish a project within a given time period. These projects may 
include, but are not limited to the following:
(a) 
Development, rebuilding or rehabilitation of agri-based livelihood assets 
damaged, destroyed, or lost due to natural disasters, such as desilting of 
irrigation canals, development of paddy dikes, and rehabilitation of water 
impounding dams;
(b) Development or rehabilitation of common service facilities, which are being 
shared and used by poor families as production or consolidation centers like 
post-harvest facilities, public markets, display centers, and fish ports;
(c) 
Development or rehabilitation of physical assets to open up access to areas 
necessary to transport rural products, such as construction of farm-to-market 
roads and bridges;


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(d) Protection of natural and productive assets through mitigation and disaster risk
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reduction measures, such as mangrove planting and rehabilitation, tree
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planting, seedling preparation, re-forestation and similar activities;
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(e) Social community projects such as repair, maintenance, or improvement of
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common public facilities and infrastructure such as schools and health centers,
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debris clearing, declogging of canals, debris segregation and materials
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recovery, stockpiling and clearing, disinfection and sanitation of shared facilities
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and public spaces; and
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(f) Remote or online work projects such as digitization of records and collation of
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inquiries submitted to government agencies: Provided, That the DSWD, in
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coordination with the program partner, shall provide the tools and equipment
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necessary for remote or online work projects.
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The DOLE shall provide an updated list of projects that may be undertaken as
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well as the projects not covered under this Act. This list shall be readily made available
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to potentially qualified individuals who have expressed their desire to participate in
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the REAP.
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Sec. 7. Rate of Assistance. - Every position qualified under this Program shall
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be entitled to receive compensation for each day of work at the prevailing minimum
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wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)
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concerned. LCDs may also provide for additional allowances to the beneficiaries in
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order to cover for other expenses such as transportation and food.
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Sec. 8. Micro-insurance Benefits. - Qualified individuals are granted the option
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to access micro-insurance as a form of social security in the event of accidental death
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or dismemberment, medical reimbursement, and bereavement assistance at a
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socialized cost by mandating the DOLE to provide liaison services necessary to enable
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qualified individuals access to these social serviced. LGUs may also provide additional
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allowance to participants to cover insurance costs.
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Sec. 9. Appropriations. - Initial funding for the implementation of this Act shall
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be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOLE. Thereafter, the
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amount of necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
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General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
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the approval of this Act, the DOLE, in consultation with relevant agencies, shall issue
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the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
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subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause.-N\ other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof 
which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,