Republic af the Philippines
JSE OF REPRESENTA’
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no.6287

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY" F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Work is becoming more skilled across industries and individual occupations’. In order

for skills training in the country, resulting to a reluctance to invest in skills.

An effective labor force competitiveness policy would help the growth of the working-
class sector and develop the right skills for a well-trained and knowledgeable citizenry,
This bill proposes the creation of a Tulong-Trabaho Fund and provide scholarships for
recipients qualified for the selected training programs by the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), This aims to lower the current skill gap and
provide a wider access to training and education.

The TESDA is also mandated to manage the said fund, as well as to evaluate schools
‘and training centers that receive funding, The institutionalization of this program is
seen as a long-term solution to improving the nation’s labor force competitiveness. By
mandating the TESDA to ensure that the development of this programm is in keeping
with the changing of times, we are assured of the quality that this program entails.

The approval of this bill is eamestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quejon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bit no. 6287

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT INSTITUTING A PHILIPPINE LABOR FORCE COMPETENCIES
COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAM, ESTABLISHING FREE ACCESS TO
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE |
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Tulong-Trabaho Act of
2017."

SECTION 2. Deciaration of Policy. ~ The Philippine Constitution provides that the
State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity
and independence of the nation, and free the people from poverty through policies
that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a nsing standard
of living, and an improved quality of life for all. For this purpose, the Constitution
encourages non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-
leaming, independent, and out-of-school study programs, particularly those that
respond to community needs.

SECTION 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act shall be:

(a) To strengthen the qualifications of the Filipino workforce to meet the
challenges of the rapidly evolving workplaces and work structures;

(b) To provide for more innovative approaches to education and training linked
to the requirements of industry;

(c) To facilitate access to quality technical education and training, and

”


(d) To encourage the participation of industry and communities in competencies

formation and upgrading towards a more competitive Filipino workforce.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — The following terms shall be used in this Act:

{a)

(b)

{c)

(0)

(e)

(9)

(n)
wo

Competency refers to the standard knowledge, skills, attitude, and values
required to complete a work activity in @ particular job, trade, or occupation,

Competency-based learning system refers to a system by which the
\eamer is trained on the basis of demonstrated ability.

Direct training expenses refers to item It costs thal are specifically traced
to, or caused by the training, and includes consumables used in the course
of the program, training supplies, materials, utilities, venue and equipment,
trainers’ fees and other related expenditures.

Formal education refers to the systematic and deliberate process of
hierarchically structured and sequential learning corresponding to the
general concept of elementary and secondary level of schooling. At the end
of each level, the leamer needs a certification in order to enter or advance
to the next level

Informal Education refers to a lifelong process of leaming by which every
person acquires and accumulates knowledge, skills, attitudes and insights
from daily experiences at home, at work, at play and from life itself.

Philippine TVET Competency Assessment and Certification System
refers to a quality-assured system in recognition of the attainment of
competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes and values) as referred to the
competency standards set fro middle-+evel occupation. It is the process of
determining the qualification level of a person and a tool in identifying the
training needs of a person with competency gaps.

Program refers to the Philippine Labor Force Competencies
Competitiveness Program established in accordance with this Act.

TESDA refers to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) — refers to the
education or training process involving general education, the study of
technologies and related sciences, acquisition of practical skills relating to
occupations in various sectors of economic and social life, and comprises
formal (organized programs as part of the school system) and non-formal
(organized classes outside the school system) approaches.

SECTION 5. Philippine Labor Force Competencies
Program. — There shall be established a Philippine Labor Force Competencies
Competitiveness Program in accordance with Section 17 of this Act, and which


shall be funded through the Tulong-Trabaho Fund created in accordance with
Section 6 of this Act.

ARTICLE I
THE TULONG-TRABAHO FUND

SECTION 6. Tulong-Trabaho Fund. — There shall be established a Tulong-
Trabaho Fund that shall provide qualified recipients with access to TVET training
programs through the full payment of the selected programs’ training fees, as well
as the possibility of providing additional financial assistance such as transportation
allowance and laboratory fees, as needed,

‘SECTION 7. Funding. — The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act
shail be included in the General Appropriations Act. The appropriated amount shail
be sufficient for free technical education and training and shall be used to fund the
training of qualified applicants for qualifications in key employment generating
sectors.

SECTION 8. Scope of Financial Assistance. ~ The Tulong-Trabaho Fund shall
be used to pay the fees of qualified recipients in Selected Training Programs
(STPs) selected in accordance with Section 10 of this Act.

SECTION 9. Qualified Recipients. — Access to the Tulong-Trabaho Fund shall be
made available to (i) any person at least fifteen (15) years of age who are not
employed, not in education, and not in training ("NEET™), and (ii) employed
workers, who intend to develop and expand their current skills and training.

SECTION 10. Management of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund. —- TESDA shall be
primarily responsible for managing the Tulong-Trabaho Fund. For this purpose, the
TESDA Board shail promulgate the policies and guidelines to implement the
Program

The TESDA Board shall also have the power to receive donations from both
to be used strictly and exclusively

government and non-government
for the beneficiaries and qualified applicants of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund.

SECTION 11. Determination of Selected Training Programs. — The TESDA
Bosh shell approve ie til Het ot Selctad Trait Frograrie (STE) alge

funding from the Tulong-Trabaho Fund based on the initial
ICON ienduien ch fi TERDA Seeatat: GTPE ton) e-aaisol ean center-
based, community-based or enterprise-based programs and shall be determined
based on the following considerations:

(a) ‘The latest issuances of Labor Market intelligent Reports;

(b) Quantitative and qualitative data on employment opportunities to be
Snssd by hse oonermmarlsttatoeana eetment


(c) Quantitative and qualitative data on jobs and skills matching, as determined
by TESDA;

(d) | The Human Resource Development Roadmaps; and

(e) Other quantitative and qualitative studies lo be determined necessary by the
TESDA Board in its selection of STPs.

Provided, that the TESDA Board may, in its discretion, adopt additional
bases to achieve the objectives of this Act.

The TESDA Board shail release the initial list of available STPs within two
(2) months from the effectivity of this Act, and shall update such list in accordance
with the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 12. Determination of Qualified Recipients. — The heads of entities
seeking funding for STPs shall submit a list of trainees who have requested
assistance from the Tulong-Trabaho Fund to the TESDA Regional Directors. The
TESDA Regional Directors shall assess the recipients and submit a list of qualified
recipients to the TESDA Director General for his/her approval.

The list of qualified recipients shail be periodically updated depending on the
availability of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund and the number of STPs.

SECTION 13. Evaluation of Assistance Given to Schools and Training
Centers. - The TESDA Board shall periodically evaluate schools and training
centers that receive funding from the Tulong-Trabaho Fund. These recipient-
institutions shall ensure that at least 70% of the beneficiaries of the Tulong-
Trabaho Fund are able to pass the Philippine TVET Competency Assessment and
Certification System. Failure to meet the passing rate shall subject the school or
training center to performance review and audit by the TESDA Board.

The TESDA Board shall have the discretion to provide other criteria and
standards to determine whether the school or center shall continue to receive
financial assistance through the Tulong-Trabaho Fund.

SECTION 14, Public Online Registry. - TESDA shall create a registry of schools
and training centers that offers STPs, a database of qualified recipients of financial
assistance and a list of graduates of these programs. These lists shall be
accessible through the website of the TESDA.

SECTION 15. Evaluation. — The TESDA Board shall release an annual report to
be made available to the public on the management of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund,

the principle of fair and full disclosure.


ARTICLE ill
DEVELOPMENT MODALITIES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

SECTION 16. Primary Duty of TESDA. — TESDA shall design and implement the
support systems necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act, particularly the
development of additional TVET programs and the improvement of existing TVET
programs.

SECTION 17. Support Systems for the Development of the Program. —
Consistent with the recognition that a TVET program must be based on developing
competencies and focused on learning outcomes to be relevant to changing
demands, TESDA shall ensure that qualified recipients of the Tulong-Trabaho
Fund are appropriately trained and their competencies are regularly updated.

For this purpose, appropriate standards, proper planning, trainors’ training
and certification, competency assessment and certification and quality assurance
system shall be put in place to ensure the entrants’ to the Program shall be
rani oh In addition, the development of modalities and programs for
employed workers and accumulation of new learning modules shall be undertaken
to upgrade competencies of employed workers. The participation of industries and
engagement of local governments shail also be sought.

ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 18. Oversight Committee. — A joint oversight committee, composed of
the chairpersons of the Committee of Labor of the Senate and the House of

tatives, shall be convened in order to review, the performance of the
Tulong-Trabaho Fund.

SECTION 19. implementing Rules and Regulations. - The TESDA shall, in
consultation with relevant stakeholders, issue the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act within a period of ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this
Act.

SECTION 20. Separability Clause. — |f any provision or part hereof, is held invalid
‘or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
‘shall remain valid and subsisting,

SECTION 21. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 22. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,