Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. p22)

Introduced by Representative TYRONE D AGABAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill which seeks to create the ‘Rural Employment Assistance
Program” for the benefit of qualified head of the family, or single adult member
of poor households in the rural areas has already been approved by the House
of Representatives on its 3" and final reading in the 17 Congress. So as to
equitably render meaningful the definition of social justice in the rural areas, it
is but imperative to refile the said bill to economically empower the poor and
the marginalized in the countryside.

Section 1, Article 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides, “The
Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measure that protect
and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social,
economic, and political inequities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably
diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.”

It includes the commitment to create economic opportunities for the poor
through effective legislative measures. As defined under this act, the term
“poor” refers to individuals and families whose income falls below the poverty
threshold as defined by the government and/or cannot afford in a sustained
manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education,
housing and other essential amenities of life, or those who have been identified
as poor by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through
the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction. A “rural area”
refers to a barangay with at least fifty percent (50%) land area devoted to
agriculture, timberland, forest and/or pasture land as determined by the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the concerned local government unit.
Through the Rural Employment Assistance Program, temporary employment
will be given to qualified individuals.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by Representative TYRONE D. AGABAS

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR A RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Rural
Employment Assistance Program Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the
State to 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. Towards this ends, the State
shall provide employment assistance to a qualified head of a
family or single adult member of poor households in rural areas
identified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

SEC. 3. Rural Employment Assistance Program. - There is
hereby created a Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP),
which shall provide temporary employment to every qualified head
of a family or single adult member of a poor family in rural areas
who volunteers to do unskilled labor for a minimum of forty five
(45) days but not more than ninety (90) days in a calendar year.


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SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) Poor refers to individuals and families whose income fall
below the poverty threshold as defined by the government and/or
cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide their minimum
basic needs of food, health, education, housing and other
essential amenities of life, or those who have been identified as
poor by the NHTS-PR;

(b) Rural area refers to any barangay with at least fifty percent
(50%) land area devoted to agriculture, timberland, forest and/or
pasture land as determined by the Comprehensive Land Use plan
of the concerned local government unit (LGU); and

(c) Unskilled labor refers to a segment of the workforce
associated with a limited skill set or minimal economic value for
the work performed. It is generally characterized by the lower
educational attainment, such as a high school diploma, General
Equivalency Diploma (GED) or lack thereof, and typically results
in lower wages.

SEC. 5. Qualifications for Availment of Employment
Assistance. - The DSWD, in close coordination with the LGUs and
other concerned government agencies, shall conduct an
assessment of all poor individuals and families in rural areas who
signify interest in undertaking work as unskilled labor to
determine eligibility in availing of the employment assistance
program. It shall take the lead in the implementation of the REAP
along project identification, implementation and monitoring of the
works and activities.

Employment activities for this purpose shall be designed to
mobilize eligible individuals and families to finish a project in a
given period. These projects may include the following:

(a) Development, rebuilding/rehabilitation of _agri-based
livelihood assets destroyed or lost due to natural disasters such as
desilting of irrigation canals, development of paddy dikes, and
rehabilitation of water impounding dams;

(b) Development or rehabilitation of common service facilities,
which are being shared and used by poor families as production
or consolidation centers like postharvest facilities, and public
markets;

(c) Development or rehabilitation of common service facilities,
up access to areas necessary to transport rural products such as
construction of farm to market roads and bridges; and


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(d) Protection of productive assets through mitigation measures
such as mangrove planting and rehabilitation, tree planting and
similar activities.

SEC. 6. Rate of Assistance. - Every person qualified under
this Program shall be entitled to receive compensation for each
day of work employment assistance equal to the applicable
minimum wage set by the concerned Regional Tripartite Wage and
Productivity Board (RTWPB).

SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Social Welfare and
Development shall be include in the DSWD’s program the
implementation of this Act, the initial funding of which shall be
charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DSWD.
Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

In addition, the DSWD may accept the donation, contributions
or grants from various sources for the implementation of the
REAP.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety
(90) days after the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the Development of
the Interior and Local Government, issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any
provision not affected hereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,