EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2316
FILED
IN D b X
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE AGUSAN DEL SUR SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES 
(ASSAT) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PROSPERIDAD, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN 
DEL SUR, INTO A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) SUPERVISED AND ADMINISTERED SCHOOL TO BE 
KNOWN AS THE AGUSAN DEL SUR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE FOR 
TECHNICAL EDUCATION (ADSPITE), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSED THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 1972, the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) in the 
Municipality of Prosperidad, Province of Agusan del Sur was created through Republic 
Act No. 6585, to contribute in improving the quality of life of Agusanons especially the 
marginalized members of the society through effective, accountable and participatory 
governance in Mindanao as it provides access to quality and sustainable social services 
through offering of affordable quality technical vocation education and skills training 
for gainful employment of the people of the Agusan del Sur.
With the developments in our education sector, there is a need for ASSAT to 
progress as a polytechnic institute which will promote synergy among institutions, 
enhance operational efficiency, broaden program offerings, and improve institutional 
performance. Under the oversight supervision of Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA), the polytechnic institution shall be a center of 
innovation and excellence and shall focus on delivering higher level qualifications such 
as National Certificate (NC) III, IV and Diploma.


This proposed measure, a counterpart version of House Bill No. 9334 filed by 
Representative Alfelito "Alfel" M. Bascug, seeks to realize the goal of ASSAT by 
converting them into a polytechnic institute to be known as the Agusan del Sur 
Polytechnic Institute for Technical Education (ADSPITE). The establishment of 
Polytechnic Institutions had been identified as one of the priority legislative agenda in 
the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) for 2018- 
2022, to mobilize and encourage the full participation of industries, the labor sector, 
government units, relevant educational institutions, and non-government 
organizations in the development of the Philippines' human capital resources.
To help the people of Agusan del Sur intensify and develop their vocational 
skills training program thereby generating livelihood in the province and nearby areas, 
the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2316
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE AGUSAN DEL SUR SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES 
(ASSAT) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PROSPERIDAD, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN 
DEL SUR, INTO A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) SUPERVISED AND ADMINISTERED SCHOOL TO BE 
KNOWN AS THE AGUSAN DEL SUR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE FOR 
TECHNICAL EDUCATION (ADSPITE), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSED THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Agusan del Sur
2 
Polytechnic Institute for Technical Education (ADSPITE) Act".
3 
SEC. 2. Conversion. - The Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trade (ASSAT)
4 
located in the Municipality of Prosperidad, Province of Agusan del Sur, is hereby
5 
converted into the Agusan del Sur Polytechnic Institute for Technical Education
6 
(ADSPITE) and shall be under the direct supervision and administration of the
7 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
8 
SEC. 3. General Mandate. - Recent global and regional developments
9 
provided the impetus to re-engineer the state of technical-vocational education to
10 
accelerate the country's response to the fast-changing standards and requirements of
11 
the domestic and international job market, namely: (1) the adoption of Republic Act
12 
No. 10968, or the "Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) Act"; (2) the ASEAN
13 
Economic Integration; (3) the global changes in technology and industry demands
14 
that have created a major need for skilled workforce and technical-vocational
15 
competency trainings; (4) the poverty reduction, livelihood and employment


1 
convergence for community-based livelihood and "techno-perineurial" skills
2 
development; (5) the imperative to produce world-class Filipino "knowledge workers"
3 
whose skills are aligned with ASEAN integration goals and other international
4 
frameworks that respond to the challenges in the job market.
5 
The ADSPITE, as a technical-vocational education institution, shall restructure
6 
its technical vocational education and training (TVET) programs to affect this major
7 
curricular shift as provider of leading edge technical skills for the local and international
8 
labor market, and aligned in accord with the standards of the industry.
9 
To this end, the ADSPITE shall upgrade its curricular standards as a tertiary
10 
TESDA polytechnic skills educational institution and provide higher, level competency
11 
qualifications for instruction in TESDA-registered TVET programs and certificate
12 
courses. It shall provide a wide array of relevant skills training and trade specialization
13 
courses to facilitate the acquisition by the citizenry of the necessary technical skills
14 
that shall enhance their access to gainful employment, practical livelihood, and
15 
entrepreneurial opportunities, and thus hasten the development of the host area and
16 
the adjacent localities in the Province of Agusan Del Sur into human resource and
17 
productivity hubs.
18 
Priority admission to the ADSPITE, including availment of scholarships, grants-
19 
in-aid and other forms of student financial assistance, shall be given to the most
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economically disadvantaged students, out-of-school youths, persons with disabilities,
21 
and indigenous peoples of the Municipality of Prosperidad and the adjacent localities
22 
to ensure their development into productive, self-reliant and globally competitive
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skilled labor assets.
24 
The ADSPITE shall serve as a TESDA-accredited assessment center for acquired
25 
competencies in TVET programs in the Province of Agusan del Sur. It shall also provide
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teachers' training and curriculum design assistance to the secondary schools offering
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the technical-vocational livelihood track under the K to 12 Program in coordination
28 
with the Department of Education, the TESDA, and the Department of Labor and
29 
Employment (DOLE).
30 
SEC. 4. Curricular Offerings/Training Programs -The ADSPITE shall offer
31 
TESDA registered TVET programs, undergraduate certificate courses, and short-term
32 
courses and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills specialization. It


1 
shall aim to meet the competency requirements under Level V of RA No. 10968, or
2 
the "Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) Act", which is the Diploma Level in
3 
TVET.
4 
To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of
5 
Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
6 
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government
7 
(DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), respective LGUs,
8 
business-industry partners, and other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both
9 
local and international, shall provide the necessary assistance so the ADSPITE can
10 
produce skilled manpower to supply the needs of a robust and inclusive economy.
11 
The ADSPITE may establish research and technology hubs, technology
12 
development farms, satellite or extension campuses, as recommended by ASSAT &
13 
TESDA, promote mobile training programs, and strengthen linkages with industry
14 
partners and the academe.
15 
It shall also adopt the use of innovative training modes such as information
16 
technology assisted instruction, dual training system pursuant to Republic Act No.7686
17 
or the "Dual Training System Act of 1994", open distance learning pursuant to Republic
18 
Act No. 10650 or the "Open Distance Learning Act", community laboratory, virtual and
19 
blended learning modes, and such other instructional programs that shall allow local
20 
residents greater access to the TVET program offerings of the ADSPITE.
21 
Course completion at the ADSPITE shall be credited through skills competency
22 
assessment under National Certification Levels III to V. When applicable, TVET
23 
competency shall qualify for academic degree recognition pursuant to Republic Act
24 
No. 10647 or the "Ladderized Education Act", provided that the requirements of the
25 
Commission on Higher Education are complied with.
26 
The ADSPITE shall offer skills development for higher competency qualifications
27 
in areas relating to technical industrial education, trade technology, tourism,
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agricultural technology, business literacy, and innovation in TESDA-registered skills,
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as follows:
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(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and
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steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, automotive


1 
mechanical assembly, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of
2 
power tools and equipment for both medium skills grade and industrial purposes;
3 
(b) Tourism and hospitality-related courses relating to hotel, restaurant, and
4 
tourism development management;
5 
(c) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in
6 
such areas as farming technology, fishing operations technology, backyard farming
7 
and home-based aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farming,
8 
fishing tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and
9 
innovations, and relevant training seminars for farmers and fisherfolk to encourage
10 
entrepreneurship and thus increase their productivity;
11 
(d) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and
12 
small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts and crafts,
13 
workmanship and design, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture,
14 
livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home technology, culinary
15 
arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology, and health and wellness training;
16 
(e) Basic business literacy training in financial management, marketing,
17 
accountancy, bookkeeping, office procedures, business processes and application
18 
procedures including registration, licensing, documentation, business patent and
19 
intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment opportunities
20 
sourcing, import-export accreditation, online home-based business operation, and
21 
social media business marketing;
22 
(f) Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry,
23 
masonry, plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive
24 
servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer servicing, and such other relevant
25 
practical skills courses;
26 
(g) Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, web
27 
development, animation (3D Digital), game development, and computer-aided design
28 
application;
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(h) Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English
30 
and other languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job
31 
placement;


1 
(i) Seminars in personality development, career counseling, job placement,
2 
and work ethic and values;
3 
(j) Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people
4 
of the Municipality of Prosperidad and the adjacent localities to enhance their
5 
capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial activities.
6 
SEC. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements.- The provisions of this
7 
Act notwithstanding, the conversion of the ASSAT into the ADSPITE shall become
8 
operational only upon the issuance by the TESDA of a formal recommendation and
9 
certificate of compliance attesting that the ADSPITE has satisfactorily complied with
10 
the minimum standards of quality it has prescribed governing the following: a)
11 
standard procedures and guidelines for the conversion and operation of a TESDA
12 
polytechnic institute; b) operational sustainability of the ADSPITE in terms of licensed
13 
faculty-trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities,
14 
instructional materials, and other standard requirements of a TESDA-accredited and
15 
supervised school; c) sustainable funding source and regular allocation of budgetary
16 
requirement for TESDA-operated schools; d) full alignment of the training programs
17 
offered with the minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational
18 
technology skills and the needs of the host area and adjacent localities served within
19 
the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration and the
20 
PQF for TVET; and e) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and
21 
standards, as may be necessary and applicable, on the conversion of the ASSAT into
22 
the ADSPITE.
23 
SEC. 6. Administration. - The ADSPITE shall be headed by a Vocational
24 
School Superintendent under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full-time
25 
service and be responsible for its administration and operation. The Vocational School
26 
Superintendent shall be appointed by the TESDA Director General in accordance with
27 
the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission and the qualification
28 
requirements for such office. The Vocational School Superintendent shall enter into
29 
agreement with locally-based private and public counterpart agencies or
30 
instrumentalities and persons and seek such assistance as may be necessary to
31 
effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General.
32 
The academic and administrative staff of the ADSPITE shall be organized following


1 
the staffing pattern of the TESDA for such type of schools, pursuant to existing laws,
2 
rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.
3 
SEC. 7. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel - All assets, fixed and movable,
4 
personnel, records and documents, as well as the liabilities or obligations of the ASSAT
5 
shall be transferred to the ADSPITE: Provided, That the positions, rights and security
6 
of tenure of faculty and personnel therein employed prior to its conversion into the
7 
ADSPITE, shall not be impaired.
8 
All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the defunct ASSAT
9 
are henceforth declared the property of the ADSPITE and shall be titled under that
10 
name: Provided, That, should the ADSPITE cease to exist or such aforementioned
11 
parcels of land be no longer needed by the ADSPITE, the same shall all revert to the
12 
concerned local government unit (LGU), or to the Municipality of Prosperidad, Province
13 
of Agusan del Sur.
14 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial operations of
15 
the ADSPITE shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the ASSAT.
16 
Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
17 
Act.
18 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
19 
after the approval of this Act, TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST,
20 
DA, DBM, DILG, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and
21 
industry-business partners of the host locality, prepare and issue the necessary rules
22 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
23 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision
24 
of this Act shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions
25 
hereof shall not be affected and shall remain in force and in effect.
26 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees,
27 
instructions, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this
28 
Act are repealed or amended accordingly.
29 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
30 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,