Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by Representative MOHAMAD “TONG” P. PAGLAS, SR. 
Representative, Lone District of Maguindanao del Sur 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
We came to a realization that the correct approach to peace and order is not to 
force peace in the region through arms, but to give the people a source of livelihood, 
give them economic opportunities, teach them new knowledge, and educate them until 
they can stand on their own and support each other as a community of peace-loving 
people. 
Constitution provides that the State is duty-bound to establish, maintain and 
support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs 
of the people and society.  
The establishment of a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA) Training and Assessment Center to be located in the Municipality of Datu 
Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur is strategically important in achieving long lasting peace 
and order. Such center will enable them to learn appropriate income generating skills 
so as to become self-reliant and economically productive members of their respective 
communities.  
The Center proposed in this bill is envisioned to offer training programs on 
relevant skills, competencies, craftmanship and entrepreneurship activities that will 
eventually hasten the transformation not only of the people as productive citizens, but 
the area and its contiguous localities into human resource and productivity hubs.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MOHAMAD “TONG” P. PAGLAS, SR. 
December 6, 2022
4:53 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by Representative MOHAMAD “TONG” P. PAGLAS, SR. 
Representative, Lone District of Maguindanao del Sur 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF DATU PAGLAS, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Datu Paglas, 
Maguindanao del Sur TESDA Training and Assessment Center Act".  
SEC. 2. Establishment. - There is hereby established training and assessment 
center, under the supervision of TESDA, to be known as Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del 
Sur TESDA Training and Assessment Center.  
The center shall be located in highly accessible area in the Municipality of Datu 
Paglas, in the Province of Maguindanao del Sur, pursuant to the purposes of this Act, 
and to the agreement between the TESDA and the concerned local government unit 
(LGU). 
SEC. 3. General Mandate. – The Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur TESDA 
Training and Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as The Center, shall primarily 
provide technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs to students and 
local residents from low-income families and out-of-school youth, including persons 
with disabilities and indigenous peoples to help them become productive, self-reliant 
and globally competitive labor assets.  
The Center shall provide effective employment interventions through training 
programs on relevant skills trade competencies, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship 
activities that will help hasten the development of the host areas and the adjacent 
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localities into human resource and productivity hubs.  
 
The Center shall each serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment and Training 
Center for acquired competencies in TVET programs. They shall also provide technical-
vocational training for teachers and curriculum design assistance to the secondary 
schools offering the technical-vocational livelihood track under the K-12 Program in 
coordination with the Department of Education and the TESDA.  
 
SEC. 4. Training Programs. The Center shall offer short-term certificate courses 
and modular training courses in preferred technical-vocational skills and trades 
specialization. To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry 
partners, and other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and international, 
shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop skilled manpower 
to achieve a robust and inclusive economy.  
 
The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology 
development farms, satellite or extension training centers, and promote mobile training 
programs to strengthen linkages among the industry partners, the academe, and the 
Center geared towards the acquisition of practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful 
employment, and entrepreneurship capabilities.  
 
The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies 
assessment leading to National Certification Levels I–III:  
 
a. Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and 
steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, 
automotive mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and 
operation of power tools and equipment for both medium skills grade and 
industrial purposes;  
b. Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in such 
areas as farming technology, fishing operations technology, backyard farming 
and home-based aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farming, 
fishing tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology 
and innovations, and relevant training seminars for farmers and fisherfolk to 
encourage entrepreneurship and thus increase their productivity;  
c. Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and small-
scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts and crafts, 
workmanship and design, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, 
horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home 
technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology, and health and 


wellness training;  
d. Basic business literacy training in financial management and marketing, practical 
accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures, business processes and 
application procedures including registration, licensing, documentation, business 
patent and intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment 
opportunities sourcing, import-export accreditation, online home- based business 
operation and use of social media business marketing;  
e. Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, masonry, 
plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive servicing, 
electronics servicing, personal computer servicing, and such other relevant 
practical skills courses; 
f. Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, web development, 
animation (3D Digital), game development, and computer-aided design 
application;  
g. Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English and 
other languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job 
placement;  
h. Seminars in personality development, career counseling, job placement, and work 
ethic and values; and 
i. Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people of the 
Municipality of Datu Paglas and of adjacent localities to enhance their capacities 
for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial activities.  
 
SEC. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act 
notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon the issuance by the 
TESDA of a formal recommendation and certificate of compliance attesting that the 
Center has satisfactorily complied with the minimum standards of quality it has 
prescribed governing the following:  
 
a. Standard procedures and guidelines for the establishment and operation of a 
Center; 
b. Operational sustainability of the Center, in terms of licensed faculty-trainers and 
personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials, 
and other standard requirements of a Center;  
c. Sustainable funding source and allocation of the budgetary requirement;  
d. Full alignment of the training programs offered with the minimum standards of 
competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and the needs of 
the host areas and adjacent communities served within the context of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration and the Philippine 
Qualification Framework for TVET; and 
e. Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may be 
necessary and applicable in establishing a Center.  
 


SEC. 6. Administration. – The Center shall each be headed by a Technical- 
Vocational Administrator, under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full- 
time service and be responsible for the Center's respective administration and operation.  
 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA 
Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service 
Commission and the qualification requirements for such office. The Technical- 
Vocational Administrator shall enter into agreements with locally-based private and 
public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons for such assistance as may 
be necessary to effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA 
Director General. 
 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. The Director General of the TESDA shall include in the 
Authority's program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
The LGUs concerned, in consultation with the TESDA, shall set aside from any 
available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to 
support the operation of the Center herein established.  
 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the 
approval of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST, DA, 
Department of Budget and Management, DILG, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and such 
other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host localities, prepare and 
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.  
 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this 
Act shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof 
shall not be affected and shall remain in force and in effect. 
 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
  
SEC. 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved, 
: