Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2455

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)
TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAGKAWAYAN, IN THE
PROVINCE OF QUEZON, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution declares 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 rising
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all” (Article II, Section 9).

Likewise, the fundamental law provides that “The Congress shall give highest priority to the
enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce
social, economic and political inequalities...” (Article XIII, Section 1) and that “The promotion of social
justice shall include the commitment to create economic opportunities based on freedom and self-
reliance” Article XIII, Section 2).

According to the International Labor Organization, “In 2007, the National Statistics Office (NSO)
reported that more than 750,000 out of 1.6 million people in Quezon are living below or near the
poverty line. The poverty incidence in the province spells the need for assistance that would nurture
peace, human security and decent work. Labor could only be the sole asset of this population to
support their families and survive the daily costs of living, which could also lead the path towards
decent and productive work.”

Further it reports that people in Quezon are confronted with social and economic challenges
and “they are often forced to accept whatever work is accessible and available.” Accordingly,
“Increasing their livelihood assets and productivity at the community and local government levels can
help in the local economic development and peace building process.”

In this light, there is a need to facilitate the provision of adequate social and economic
infrastructure services and reduce poverty and unemployment, particularly in the municipality of
Tagkawayan, Quezon, which lacks appropriate training institutions that will enable its residents to
become productive partners in community and nation building. With this in mind, this measure seeks to
alleviate poverty in Tagkawayan, Quezon through the establishment of a Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center for its poor residents thereby
enabling them to become economically productive and self-reliant.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Aas

ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2455
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)
TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAGKAWAYAN, IN THE
PROVINCE OF QUEZON, AND 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 “Tagkawayan, Quezon Province TESDA
‘Training and Assessment Center Act”.

SEC. 2. Establishment. - There is hereby established Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the island municipality of
Tagkawayan, in the Province of Quezon, under the supervision of the TESDA, to be known as
Tagkawayan, Quezon Training and Assessment Center;

SEC. 3. General Mandate. - The Tagkawayan, Quezon Province TESDA Training and
‘Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide technical-vocational
training and skills development programs to students and residents from low-income families and out-
of-school youths, including college dropout and persons with disabilities, in the island municipality of
Tagkawayan, and the other adjacent localities in the Province of Quezon, geared towards the
acquisition of practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful employment, and entrepreneurship.

The Center shall help train local residents to become productive, self-reliant and globally
competitive middle to high-level skilled labor force to hasten the social and economic development of
these areas, in particular, and to meet the manpower needs of both local and international labor
markets, in general.

The Center shall consider in the design of relevant technical-vocational training programs to be
offered thereat a competency assessment of the socioeconomic profile, employment conditions and
opportunities, business climate, market and industry potentials, available resources, presence of
support structures, including the literacy level and skills readiness, and the overall development within
the host areas and adjacent communities within the operational radius of the Center established
herein. The Center shall also consider the relevant skills trade competencies, craftsmanship training
programs, and entrepreneurship activities needed to deliver the effective employment and
development interventions required to make these areas as human resource and productivity hubs.

The Center shall also serve as TESDA-accredited assessment centers for acquired competencies
in technical-vocational skills. Preference in admission shall be given to the most disadvantaged citizens,
including persons with disabilities, and to the most economically depressed areas of the municipality of
Tagkawayan and other adjacent localities in the Province of Quezon with the highest percentage of
disadvantaged and indigent citizens.

The Center shall, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the TESDA,
offer relevant teachers’ training assistance and curriculum design to the secondary schools providing
the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of the DepEd.

SEC. 4. Training Programs. - The Center shall offer diverse short-term certificate courses and


modular trainings in relevant technical-vocational skills and trade specialization to comply with
employment standards in preferred and emerging market-driven labor opportunities, and shall likewise
give premium efforts to skills specialization for the local market employment requirements geared
towards achieving the development of a robust inclusive economy within the host areas and each of
the adjacent localities and communities within the operational radius of the Center, in consultation with
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and
such other relevant agencies, both local and international.

The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology development farms, mobile
training programs, and satellite or extension training centers in priority areas throughout the Province
of Quezon within the service radius of the Center to strengthen linkages among the industry, the
academe and the Center.

To address the development and manpower needs of the municipality of Tagkawayan and the
other adjacent localities in the Province of Quezon, the Center shall offer the following TESDA-
registered technical-vocational training programs with competencies assessment leading to National
Certification Levels I-III:

(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trade such as metal and steel works,
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 training and skills development in such areas as
farming-fishing operations technology, backyard farming and home-based aquaculture and
propagation innovation, mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment operation,
agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant farmers and
fisherfolks’ continuing training for increased productivity and entrepreneurship;

(©) Social communication skills development, language proficiency courses in English and
other languages for business process outsourcing employment such as call center and
overseas job placement;

(4) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and small-scale
entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in crafts and arts, workmanship and
designing, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture, livestock raising and
breeding; food processing technology, home technology, culinary arts and commercial
cooking, cosmetology, health and wellness training;

(e) 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 social media business
marketing;

(f)— Technical-vocational occupation and trade skills such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing,
welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive servicing, electronics servicing,
basic personal computer (PC) troubleshooting and servicing, and such other relevant
practical skills courses;

(9) Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital technology, web
design, animation, photoshop/online photography, computer design and advertising;

(h) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placement, and work
ethic and values; and

(i) Other preferred priority skills and trade training that may be utilized by the people of the
municipality of Tagkawayan and the other localities in the Province of Quezon, 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
Tagkawayan Center established herein shall become operationally effective only upon the
determination and declaration of the TESDA, through the issuance of a formal recommendation and
certificate of compliance, that the Center has individually and satisfactorily complied with the minimum


requirements for quality standards prescribed by the TESDA governing the following competency
assessment:

(a) __ Standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment and operation of a
TESDA-accredited training and assessment center;

(b) Operational sustainability of the Center established herein, such as licensed faculty-
trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, and instructional
materials;

(©) Sustainable funding source and allocation for the budgetary requirement of the Center
herein established;

(d) Assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the minimum
standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and the needs
of the host site and adjacent localities served in the context of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) for technical-
vocational education; and

(©) Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may be necessary
and applicable.

‘SEC. 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational Administrator,
under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full-time services and be responsible for the
administration and operation of the Center.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator of the Center shall be appointed by the TESDA Director
General in accordance with Civil Service Commission rules and regulation and the qualification
requirements for such office.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator of the Center shall enter into mutual agreements with
locally-based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons, subject to
approval of the TESDA Director General, for such assistance as may be necessary to effectively
implement this Act.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The Director General of the TESDA shall include in the Authority's
Program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act. The LGUs concerned, in consultation with the TESDA, shall likewise set aside from
any available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support the
operation of the Center established herein.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the approval of
this Act, the TESDA, in coordination with the DOLE, the DTI, the DOST, the NEDA, the Department of
Budget and Management (DMB), the DILG, the concerned LGU, and such other relevant agencies and
industry-business partners of the host locality shall prepare and issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the 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 hereof shall not be affected and
shall remain in force and 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 hereby 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,