Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2205
Introduced by Representative Ryan S. Recto 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to address the critical disconnect between skill 
supply and industry demand, a decades-long challenge that has persisted since the 
1970s. The Batang Magaling Act aims to enhance the employability and 
competitiveness of Senior High School (SHS) graduates by fostering the collaboration 
between education, government and industry. 
The K-12 Basic Education Program was signed into law in 2013 as a means to 
produce SHS graduates who are not just globally competitive, but also job-ready. 
However, in a 2025 study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), 
it was revealed that only 20% of SHS graduates are employed. For those who do enter 
the workforce, the average employment rate is 79% for Grade 12 graduates and 85% 
for Grade 10 completers. Not only that, but it is also equally alarming to know that 
Grade 12 graduates have a higher underemployment rate at 15%, compared to the 
average underemployment rate of 14% as of April 2015.   
Based on the above data, it cannot be ignored that there is indeed a gap 
between the skills being imparted to SHS learners and the actual demands of 
industries. This is what is often described as a job-skills mismatch. This mismatch 
often impedes economic growth as it results in lower wages, job dissatisfaction, 
diminished productivity, increased unemployment and decreased economic 
competitiveness.  
The bill is a direct response to this persisting issue. The measure mandates the 
creation of a Batang Magaling National and Local Councils that will serve as the link in 
aligning the K-12 curriculum, especially its Work Immersion Programs (WIPs), with the 
evolving needs of the labor market. These Councils shall also be responsible for the 
development of the Batang Magaling Roadmaps, a framework that shall introduce 
interventions and set measurable goals on enhancing the employability and 
competitiveness of SHS graduates. This piece of legislation also strengthens WIP 
guidelines to ensure that the experience for learners is meaningful and skill-focused.  
It shall also encourage the hiring of K-12 SHS graduates through the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC) and provide incentives to private industry partners through 
July 23, 2025
8:50 am


full tax deductions on training expenses incurred for the skills development of newly 
hired SHS graduates.  
With all that being said, it is the vision of this measure to equip every SHS 
learner with adequate skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly 
competitive labor market and to meaningfully contribute to national growth and 
development. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
      Ryan S. Recto 
    Representative 
          6th District, Batangas 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Ryan S. Recto 
AN ACT 
ENSURING THAT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES  UNDER THE K TO 12 
PROGRAM ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE  KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND SKILLS 
DEMANDED IN THE LABOR MARKET, ENHANCING THEIR EMPLOYABILITY AND 
COMPETITIVENESS, CREATING THE BATANG MAGALING  COUNCILS TO 
STRENGTHEN MULTI-STAKEHOLDER  COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR 
EMPLOYMENT,  ALLOWING FULL DEDUCTION OF TRAINING EXPENSES  INCURRED 
FOR THEIR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, APPROPRIATING  FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Batang Magaling Act”. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is a declared policy of the State to establish, 
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maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education 
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relevant to the needs of the people and society. 
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This Act likewise reiterates a declared State policy that every graduate of basic 
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education shall be an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that 
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is rooted in sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the 
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foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and be 
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productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, 
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the capability to engage in autonomous, creative, and critical thinking, and the 
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capacity and willingness to transform others and one’s self. 
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SEC. 3. Objective. – This Act shall ensure that the Philippine basic education 
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system, as enhanced under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10533 or the “Enhanced Basic 
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Education  Act of 2013”, will produce Senior High School (SHS) graduates who are 
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equipped with knowledge, training and skills demanded in the labor market, whether 
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they have chosen the higher education, middle-level skills development, or 
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employment or entrepreneurship exit,  thereby enhancing their employability and 
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competitiveness in the workforce. 
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SEC. 4. Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Linkages and Collaboration; The  Batang 
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Magaling National and Local Councils; The Batang Magaling Roadmap. — To  align the 
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tracks and strands of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum under R.A. No. 10533  
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with the needs of the labor market, a National Batang Magaling Council (National 
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Council)  shall be created composed of the Department of Education (DepEd), the 
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Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of 
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Labor and Employment  (DOLE), three (3) national industry partners, one (1) national 
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labor group, and the Union of  Local Authorities of the Philippines.  
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Local Batang Magaling Councils (Local Councils) shall likewise be formed at 
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the provincial, city and municipal levels to ensure that K to 12 SHS  graduates are 
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equipped with education, training and skills demanded by the industry partners.  The 
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Local Councils shall be composed of the provincial, city or municipal local school 
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boards  (LSBs), at least two (2) industry partners in the locality, a representative of the 
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TESDA  provincial office, and a local employee organization or association. Every 
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education institution  offering the SHS Program shall regularly consult with the Local 
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Council at least twice a year  to be guided by the actions of the council, especially the 
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roadmap in paragraph e hereunder and to establish a mechanism for active 
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collaboration and meaningful communication for the  following purposes: 
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a) To provide information to the education institutions for the updating and 
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alignment of the work component of the SHS program with the market 
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needs as identified by the industry partners; 
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b) To convince industry partners and government agencies to accept learners 
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in Work  Immersion Programs (WIPs), ensure that their deployment is done 
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according to their  tracks or specialization courses, and enable them to 
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acquire specialized skills and  competencies to advance in their chosen 
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path; 
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c) To enable the LSBs to provide relevant data and information to the 
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stakeholders,  increase their awareness of their mutual issues and 
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concerns on the employability of  SHS graduates in the locality, and give 
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local incentives to recognize best practices on  collaboration; 
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d) To craft the WIPs of all education institutions offering the SHS Program 
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within a  province, city or municipality and ensure that the curriculum is 
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aligned with industry  needs, learners meet the minimum requirements of 
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the work immersion industry  partners, and learners develop competencies 
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and acquire skills that are industry-based  to improve their work readiness 
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and employability; and 
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e) To develop a local Batang Magaling Roadmap in the province, city or 
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municipality that  shall introduce interventions and set measurable goals 
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on enhancing the employability  and competitiveness of SHS graduates, 
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including but not limited to an increase or  improvement in the following: 
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the number of industry partners and government  agencies participating in 
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the WIPs; the number of SHS learners deployed under the  WIPs according 
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to their tracks or specialization courses; and the rate of employment of  K 
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to 12 SHS graduates. As such, the local roadmap shall include the skills 
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demanded  by industry partners and government agencies in the locality 
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vis-à-vis the needed  knowledge, training and skills of K to 12 SHS 
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graduates to match the said demand,  using the labor market demand 
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forecast under Sec. 6, and the skills database under Sec.  7 hereof. 
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Taking into consideration the local roadmaps developed at the provincial, city 
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and municipal levels, the National Council shall craft a parallel National Batang 
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Magaling  Roadmap to fulfill the objective under Sec. 3 of this Act. The provincial Local 
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Councils shall similarly craft their respective Provincial Batang Magaling Roadmaps 
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based on the Municipal Batang Magaling Roadmaps, while the city Local Councils shall 
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base their respective City Batang Magaling Roadmaps on the WIPs within the locality 
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under their jurisdiction. 
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The National and Local Councils shall submit annual performance reports to 
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the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, and other 
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relevant oversight bodies, detailing the progress made in achieving the objectives of 
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this Act, including measurable outcomes outlined in their respective roadmaps. 
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SEC. 5. Work Immersion Programs. — The WIPs that are mandated to be offered 
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by education institutions offering the SHS Program shall develop in learners the 
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competencies, skills, work ethic and values relevant to pursuing further education or 
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joining the world of work.  
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The WIP shall be based on the Batang Magaling Roadmap and designed to 
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match the needs of the learners and the capabilities of the education institutions vis-
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à-vis the demands of the work immersion industry partners and government agencies.  
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The Schools Division Office of the DepEd shall approve the WIP as proposed in 
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these provinces, cities or municipalities, with due compliance to legal and 
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administrative prescriptions on the number of hours and delivery models, among 
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others. 
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SEC. 6. Integration of the Government Internship Program. — To drive the  Batang 
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Magaling Roadmap towards public service and acquaint the youth with government 
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programs, projects, and activities, the Government Internship Program (GIP) shall be 
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part of  the WIP.  
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SEC. 7. Work Immersion Guidelines. — The following shall be the guidelines  for 
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the implementation of the WIP: 
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a) Participants of WIP shall be Filipino citizens. For SHS students aged fifteen 
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(15) to below eighteen (18) years of age, their participation shall strictly 
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adhere to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9231, otherwise known as the 
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Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and 
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Discrimination Act, specifically regarding hours of work and prohibited acts. 
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For participants eighteen (18) years of age and above, relevant labor laws 
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shall apply regarding hours of work and working conditions. 
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b) Institutions, both public and private, shall designate an employee who will 
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serve  as the WIP Desk Officer, who will oversee the implementation of WIP 
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within the institution; 
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c) Participants of WIP shall render at least two hundred (200) hours; 
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d) WIP period shall be for a period of at least one (1) month to three (3) 
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months at  most and must be implemented on a year-round basis; 
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e) Participants of WIP shall graduate from the program before their SHS  
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graduation; 
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f) Upon entry into WIP, participants shall be provided with a stipend 
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amounting to 75% of the existing rate of step 1, Salary Grade 1 of the 
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government salary standardization law and shall be non-taxable. The 
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amount of the stipend shall be based on the trainee’s actual attendance, 
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absences, and tardiness incurred. It shall  be paid in accordance with 
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existing labor laws and civil service laws, rules and regulations;   
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g) The institutions, as provided by law, and subject to budgeting, accounting 
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and auditing rules and regulations, shall provide additional entitlements 
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such as: 
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i. 
Transportation and meal provisions during activities that are held  
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outside of the day-to-day office trainings; 
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ii. 
Compensatory time off in case of activities held during 
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weekends/holidays and/or beyond office hours; and 
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iii. 
Incentives and recognition in acknowledgment of remarkable 
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achievements (i.e., punctuality, perfect attendance); 
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h) WIP shall not be considered as employment. Thus, there is no employer-
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employee relationship between the beneficiary and the institution. WIP  
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graduates shall be given preference in the hiring of workers in the 
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institutions.  After career coaching, the institution shall assess and 
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determine whether the  WIP graduate may be recommended for contractual 
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or regular work; 
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i) 
Participants of WIP shall be assigned tasks and responsibilities that are 
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directly aligned with their SHS track and specialization and that contribute 
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to their learning and skills development. They shall not be prohibited from 
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tasks that are discriminatory, hazardous, exploitative or fall outside the 
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scope of their agreed-upon learning objectives; 
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j) 
Institutions shall conduct trainings, seminars and other developmental  
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interventions for the participants of WIP, including, but not limited to 
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mentoring,  coaching, and performance evaluation; and 
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k) Social protection incentives shall be provided to the interns and are 
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encouraged for consideration by the institutions, such as accident 
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insurance, as they may be applicable. The process can be facilitated with 
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either public or private insurance entities, and public insurance entities like 
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GSIS, subject to budgetary requirements of the institution. 
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l) 
Upon graduation from SHS, WIP graduates may continue with their 
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internship through the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) 
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of DOLE,  provided that their total stay in the institution is a maximum of six 
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(6) months. 
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SEC. 8. Labor Market Demand Forecasting. — To align the WIP with market 
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demand and ensure that the knowledge, training and skills of K to 12 SHS graduates 
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match the in-demand and projected in-demand jobs of industry partners in the locality, 
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the Councils are hereby mandated to conduct labor market demand studies every 
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three (3) years.  
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The data derived from such demand forecast shall serve as the basis for the 
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work components of the SHS Program, the Batang Magaling Roadmaps, the WIPs, the 
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training to be conducted, the resources to be procured, and the skills to be developed 
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among the learners,  among others. The demand forecast will also allow education 
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institutions to focus on employable skills as determined by medium- to long-term 
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labor market demand. 
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SEC. 9. Batang Magaling Database; Centralized Skills Database. — The  DepEd, 
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in collaboration with the National and Local Councils, shall develop, maintain, and 
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update a centralized nationwide database of skills information to serve as a one-stop 
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shop for all matters related to the employment of K to 12 SHS graduates. 
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The Batang Magaling Database shall help strengthen the educational 
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institutions’  linkages and collaboration with industry partners, facilitating the meeting 
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of skills demand within the province, city, municipality, and the country as a whole.  
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The Batang Magaling database shall register the demographic profile of 
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learners, including, but not limited to, their educational background, track and strand 
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completed in SHS,  training, skills, competencies, work immersion performance, 
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course taken after SHS, work experience and employment history. It shall also contain 
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the profiles, demands, and vacancies,  among others, of industry partners. The 
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Implementing Rules and Regulations shall prescribe the process to be followed in 
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ensuring that the Local Councils themselves provide and register such demographic 
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information as required to be included in the centralized database. It shall also contain 
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updated information on in-demand and emerging skills, as identified by the labor 
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market demand forecasts, and the profiles, demands, and vacancies of industry 
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partners, facilitating targeted skills development and matching. 
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SEC. 10. Affirmative Hiring of K to 12 SHS Graduates; Civil Service  Commission; 
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Industry Partners. — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination 
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with the DepEd, shall conduct studies and research for the crafting of strategies and 
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guidelines to minimize the impediments to K to 12 SHS employment, and promote the 
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affirmative hiring of K to 12 SHS graduates.  
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The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is hereby mandated to review the eligibility 
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requirements for government employment and revise its policies to integrate the K to 
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12  qualifications in the CSC qualification standards to fulfill the employability of K to 
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12 SHS  graduates in the government sector. Such K to 12 qualification standards may 
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include, among others, one’s education as a SHS graduate, experience, training, and 
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eligibility.  
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The industry partners are likewise enjoined to rethink and review their hiring 
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policies and job requirements to provide employment opportunities, such as entry-
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level positions, to K  to 12 SHS graduates. 
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SEC. 11.  Fully Deductible Training Expenses from Taxable Income;  Additional 
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Item of Deduction. — Industry partners shall be allowed an additional item of  deduction 
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from their taxable income of the full value of training expenses incurred for the skills 
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development of K to 12 SHS graduates hired pursuant to this Act, hereby amending 
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Sec. 34 (A) (1) (a) (v) of R.A. No. 8424or the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, 
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as amended by R.A. No. 11534 or “CREATE”. 
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SEC. 12. Mandatory Review and Impact Assessment. — The DepEd shall conduct 
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a mandatory review of the implementation of this Act and submit an assessment 
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report to Congress on its impact and effectiveness, not later than two (2) years from 
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its effectivity and every two (2) years thereafter. 
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SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, CSC, DOLE, TESDA, and other public and private 
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stakeholders, including industry partners, shall issue the rules and regulations 
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implementing its provisions. The IRR issued pursuant to this section shall take effect 
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thirty (30) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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SEC. 14. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
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of this Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current appropriations of 
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the DepEd. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall 
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be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 15. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
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and effect. 
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SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved,  
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