Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Edsel A. Galeos 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed measure aims to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the Municipality of Boljoon, Province of 
Cebu.  
Article XIV Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall protect and promote 
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
education accessible to all. To this end, the fundamental law of the land also mandates that the State 
should provide adult citizens, the disabled, and out-of-school youth with training in civics, vocational 
efficiency, and other skills.  
In furtherance of the intent of the provisions of the Constitution, the proposed measure aims to 
ensure that technical-vocational education and training is accessible to the constituents of the Second 
District of the Province of Cebu and nearby municipalities through the establishment of a TESDA 
Training and Assessment Center in Boljoon, Cebu. Currently, the nearest training center is the 
Provincial Training Center located in Boljoon, Cebu located at the southernmost part of the Cebu 
Province. Those who want to avail of technical-vocational education are constrained to expend on 
transportation. This is a considerable barrier to individuals who want to learn but are financially 
challenged.  
It is worth noting that TESDA has recently conducted a study which found that eight out of ten 
technical vocational education and training graduates were employed. The TVET sector has posted an 
employment rate of 84.72%. Furthermore, TESDA has posted a certification rate of 93% where 
751,500 out of 808,227 assessed successfully earned their National Certificates. It is high time that 
public access to TESDA’s programs be expanded.    
For the foregoing reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
EDSEL A. GALEOS 
August 12, 2025
8:00 am
3513


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
________________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Edsel A. Galeos 
_________________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
BOLJOON, PROVINCE OF CEBU AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment of a Training and Assessment Center. - There is hereby 
1 
established a training and assessment center, under the supervision of the Technical Education and 
2 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to be known as the “Boljoon, Cebu TESDA Training and 
3 
Assessment Center”.  It shall be located in a highly accessible area in the Municipality of Boljoon, 
4 
Province of Cebu, pursuant to the purposes of this Act and the agreement between the TESDA and the 
5 
concerned local government units (LGUs). 
6 
7 
SEC. 2. General Mandate. – The Boljoon, Cebu TESDA Training and Assessment Center, 
8 
hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide technical-vocational education and 
9 
training (TVET) programs to students and local residents from low-income families and out-of-school 
10 
youths, including persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples, to help them become productive, 
11 
self-reliant, and globally competitive labor assets. 
12 
13 
The Center shall provide effective employment interventions through training programs on 
14 
relevant skills in trade competencies, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship activities to help hasten the 
15 
development of the host area and its adjacent localities into human resource and productivity hubs. 
16 
17 
The Center shall also provide technical-vocational training for teachers and curriculum design 
18 
assistance to the secondary schools in the Province offering the technical-vocational livelihood track 
19 
under the K to 12 Program, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the 
20 
TESDA. 
21 
22 
SEC. 3. Training Programs. – The Center shall offer short-term certificate courses and 
23 
modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills and trades specialization. To this end, the 
24 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department 
25 
of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and 
26 
Local Government (DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-
27 
industry partners, and  other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and international, shall 
28 
provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop skilled manpower to achieve a robust 
29 
and inclusive economy in the host area and its adjacent localities. 
30 
31 
3513


 
 
 
The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology development farms, 
1 
satellite or extension training centers, promote mobile training programs, and strengthen linkages 
2 
among the industry partners, the academe, and the Center geared towards the acquisition by residents 
3 
of practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial capabilities in 
4 
priority areas in the Municipality of Kibawe and adjacent localities in the Province of Bukidnon. 
5 
 
6 
The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies assessment leading to 
7 
National Certification Levels I-III:  
8 
 
9 
(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and steelwork, 
10 
machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, automotive mechanical 
11 
assembly, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools and 
12 
equipment for both medium skills grade and industrial purposes; 
13 
 
14 
(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in such areas as 
15 
farming technology, fishing operations technology, backyard farming and home-based 
16 
aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farming, fishing tools and equipment 
17 
operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant training 
18 
seminars for farmers and fisherfolk to encourage entrepreneurship and thus increase their 
19 
productivity; 
20 
 
21 
(c) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and small-scale 
22 
entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts and crafts, workmanship and 
23 
design, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture, livestock raising and 
24 
breeding, food processing technology, home technology, culinary arts and commercial 
25 
cooking, cosmetology, and health and wellness training;  
26 
 
27 
(d) Basic business literacy training in financial management and marketing, practical 
28 
accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures, business processes and application 
29 
procedures, including registration, licensing, documentation, business patent and 
30 
intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment opportunities sourcing, 
31 
import-export accreditation, online home-based business operation and social media 
32 
business marketing; 
33 
 
34 
(e) Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, 
35 
welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive servicing, electronics servicing, 
36 
personal computer servicing, and such other relevant practical skills courses; 
37 
 
38 
(f) Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, digital technology, web 
39 
design, animation, photoshop or online photography, computer design and advertising; 
40 
 
41 
(g) Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English and other 
42 
languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job placement; 
43 
 
44 
(h) Personality development, career counseling, job placement, and work ethic and values; and  
45 
 
46 
(i) Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people of the 
47 
Municipality of Kibawe and of adjacent localities to enhance their capacities for practical 
48 
livelihood, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial activities.  
49 
 
50 
SEC. 4. Compliance with TESDA Requirements.- The provisions of this Act notwithstanding, 
51 
the Center shall become operational only upon the issuance by the TESDA of a formal 
52 


 
 
 
recommendation and certificate of compliance attesting that the Center has satisfactorily complied 
1 
with the minimum standards of quality it has prescribed governing the following: (a) standard 
2 
procedures and guidelines for the establishment and operation of a Center; (b) operational 
3 
sustainability of the Center, in terms of licensed faculty-trainers and personnel, equipment, training 
4 
and laboratory facilities, instructional materials, and other standard requirements of a Center; (c) 
5 
sustainable funding source and allocation of the budgetary requirement; (d) full alignment of the 
6 
training programs offered with the minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-
7 
vocational skills technology and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served  within 
8 
the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations integration and the Philippine Qualifications 
9 
Framework  for TVET; and (e) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards as 
10 
may be necessary and applicable in establishing a Center. 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 5. Administration of the Center. – The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational 
13 
Administrator who shall render full-time service and be responsible for its administration and 
14 
operation, under the supervision of the TESDA. 
15 
 
16 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA Director General 
17 
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission and the qualification 
18 
requirements for such office. 
19 
 
20 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator may enter into agreements with locally-based private 
21 
and public counterpart agencies, instrumentalities or   persons, and seek such assistance as may be 
22 
necessary to effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General. 
23 
 
24 
 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. -  The Director General of the TESDA shall include in the Authority’s 
25 
program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
26 
Appropriations Act. 
27 
 
28 
 
The LGUs concerned, in consultation with the TESDA, shall set aside from any available local 
29 
revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support the operation of the 
30 
Center herein established.  
31 
 
32 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days after the approval 
33 
of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST, DA, Department of Budget 
34 
and Management, DepEd, DILG, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and 
35 
industry-business partners of the host locality, prepare and issue rules and regulations for the effective 
36 
implementation of this Act. 
37 
 
38 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is declared 
39 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof shall not be affected and shall 
40 
remain in force and in effect. 
41 
 
42 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and 
43 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are repealed or amended 
44 
accordingly. 
45 
 
46 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
47 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
48 
 
49 
Approved,    
50