FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
• 
SENf~36 
S. No. _'--__ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provides that: 
SEC. 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and 
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human 
liberation and development 
. 
+~ .... ' 
v 
Internet literacy is one of the emerging skills in demand in today's labor market As we 
go further into the information age, companies all over the world continue to rely on the World 
Wide Web to share and gather information. More and more, we need to have our labor force to 
be well versed on the Internet in order to be competitive. 
We need to increase Internet literacy of our workforce all over the country. Not only do 
we increase the value of our workers, we also increase the possibility of our local institutions 
being capable of setting up processes online. In undertaking this task, we need to desiguate an 
educational institution, which can assist in the technical preparation and implementation, as well 
as determine and disseminate best practices across the country. 
This bill seeks to establish a s.ystem of grant that would enable our local government 
units to establish a workforce internet training program.l 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress. Second Regular Session 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
, 
SENi\..TIi 
S.No. 
Ib36 
I"~ 
: ,r , 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
,10 
"". (7(. 
2 
TO INVEST IN INTERNET TRAINING FOR THE WORKFORCE 
3 
4 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
5 
Congress assembled: 
6 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This. Act shall be known as the "Workforce Internet Training 
7 
Act" 
8 
SECTION 2. Definition. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
9 
A. Secretary - means Secretary of Labor and Employment; 
10 
B. Department - means Department of Labor and Employment; 
11 
C. Local Government Units (LGU) :- shall be limited to provinces and chartered cities. 
12 
SECTION 3. Grant. _. The Secretary shall make one grant of not more than one million 
13 
pesos (Php 1,000,000) to each LGU to establish workforce investment programs that enable 
14 
individuals to take courses on the Internet to enhance employment opportunities among their 
15 
constituents. A LGU may use such grant to leverage other national, local, and private resources, 
16 
in order to expand the participation of b,usinesses, employees, and individuals in such workforce 
17 
investment programs. 
18 
The Department shall distribute the grants over a period of years, prioritizing LGUs, 
19 
which are more capable of implementing the programs immediately. 
20 
SECTION 4. Grant to Postsecondary Institution. - The Secretary shall make a grant of 
21 
not more than one million pesos (Php 1,000,000) to one eligible postsecondary educational 
22 
institution to provide the services described in this paragraph. 
I 


1 
SECTION 5. Eligibility for Grant. - To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
2 
subsection, a postsecondary educational institution shall-
3 
A. have demonstrated ability to disseminate research on best practices for implementing 
4 
workforce training programs; 
5 
B. have a proven record of working with government agencies in developing and 
6 
implementing workforce training programs. 
7 
SECTION 6. Services Provided by Postsecondary Institution Grantee. -
The 
8 
postsecondary educational institution that receives a grant under this subsection shall use such 
9 
grant-
lOA. to collaborate with, and to provide technical assistance to, LGUs that receive grants 
11 
under this Act; 
12 
B. to conduct and to disseminate research on best practices for implementing workforce 
13 
investment programs described in Section 3 to such LGU; and 
14 
C. to demonstrate and to share cutting-edge technological innovations in skills training 
15 
with such LGU. 
16 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
• 
17 
this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Labor and Employment 
18 
under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its 
19 
full implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and 
20 
separate item. 
21 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
22 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
23 
valid and subsisting. 
2 


I 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
2 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
3 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
4 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
5 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
6 
Approved, 
iapm020509 
3