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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM AND 
PROVIDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO INMATES IN DETENTION 
FACILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), 
there are approximately 70,000 inmates in 989 jails nationwide who are 
mostly 18 to 39 years old. To rehabilitate these inmates, the Bureau of 
Corrections has incorporated vocational programs into the job 
assignments of inmates in most correctional facilities.  
This bill seeks to institutionalize this practice by mandating the 
establishment of a skills training program for inmates in all correctional 
facilities in the Philippines. The implementation of the Program shall be 
spearheaded by the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Justice (DOJ).  In 
addition, skills advancement or training inside prison will be matched with 
job search assistance to help ex-inmates find work once outside of prison. 
Indeed, 
transition 
services, 
especially 
technical 
vocational 
education and training (TVET), can improve the self-esteem of inmates. 
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With employable skills, they can find new life when they leave detention, 
never to get back in jail. Tech-voc training will also bring new hope to the 
offenders because they know they have the skills that can be their 
passport to employment opportunities once they leave confinement. Aside 
from these, tech-voc training will also aid in breaking the cycle of 
recidivism of certain prisoners. 
 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM AND 
PROVIDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO INMATES IN DETENTION 
FACILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “Kabuhayan 
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for Offenders through Skills Advancement (KOSA) Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Establishment of Skills Training Program for Persons 
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Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). – The Technical Education and Skills 
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Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), 
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Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Justice 
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(DOJ) and its relevant agencies, such as the Bureau of Corrections, and 
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the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), including the 
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Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), shall establish skills 
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training programs for all PDLs in the Philippines.  
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In addition, a Job Search and Livelihood Assistance Desk shall be 
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established inside prisons to help ex-offenders create sustainable 
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employment once they are released from prison. 
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SEC. 3. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the 
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implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the current budgets of 
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TESDA, DepEd, DOLE, DOJ, and DILG. Thereafter, the funds necessary 
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for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
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days after the effectivity of this Act, the TESDA, DepEd, DOLE, DOJ, 
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BuCor, DILG, and BJMP, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall 
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issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
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of this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
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general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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