Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No._24

Introduced by Representative NIKO RAUL 8.J. DAZA

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The Constitution contains numerous provisions underscoring the State’s duty to
promote education as a catalyst for social transformation. Specifically, Article XIV, Section 1
provides 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.”

This proposed measure seeks to convert the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades
(BCAT), located in Allen, Northern Samar, into the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute.

Balicuatro refers to the northwestern area of Samar Island and includes the mainland
municipalities of Allen, Lavezares, San Isidro, and Victoria, as well as the island towns of
San Antonio, Capul, and San Vicente. BCAT is situated in the municipality of Allen,
approximately 44 kilometers from Catarman, the provincial capital.

Upgrading BCAT into a polytechnic institute is aimed at providing the people of
Northern Samar with relevant technical and vocational education programs. This conversion
is expected to broaden employment prospects both locally and abroad. Moreover, it will serve
as a significant economic stimulus for the province.

In light of these benefits, the immediate passage of this bill is respectfully sought.

NIKO RAU! Z DAZA

Representative, I" District of Northern Samar


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 24

Introduced by Representative NIKO RAUL S.J. DAZA

“AN ACT
CONVERTING THE BALICUATRO COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TRADES IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ALLEN, PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMAR INTO THE
NORTHERN SAMAR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 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 “Northem Samar
Polytechnic Institute (NSPI) Act.

SEC. 2. Conversion. - The Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades in the Municipality
of Allen, Province of Northem Samar is hereby converted into # polytechnic institute to be
known as the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute (NSPI), hereinafter referred to as the
Institute, under the supervision and administration of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).

SEC. 3. General Mandate. - In line with the adoption of the Philippine Qualifications
Framework (PQF) and the programs of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the
Institute shall endeavor to restructure its technical-vocational education curricular programs to
make them responsive to the rapidly, changing demands of the industry and the labor market
in both the domestic and global fronts, and within the context of the mutual recognition
arrangements embodied in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) econo!
integration framework and other relevant international agreements for technical-vocational
education.

The Institute shall endeavor to offer higher level competency qualifications in
technical-industrial education programs and technology and shall continue to upgrade its
curricular standards as a tertiary TESDA-polytechnic educational institution that caters to
wide-ranging specialized technical, creative and conceptual knowledge and skills
demonstrating depth and complexity in the planning, evaluation, initiation and management of
approaches to competency compliant technical skills and functional knowledge application.

The Institute shall offer a wide array of one (I)-year to three (3)-year TESDA-registered
technical-vocational curricular skills training programs and certificate courses, and shall aim



a
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

a
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
82
53
54
55
56
37
58
59

61
62
63
64
65
66
67

69
70
mn
2
3
74
7s
76

to meet the competency requirements under Level V of the PQF, which is the Diploma Level
in technical-vocational education. It shall primarily provide tertiary undergraduate technical-
vocational education, and shall likewise ensure the provision of various skills trainings and
trade specialization courses relevant to the needs of the province, specifically geared towards
the acquisition of employable skills, gainful employment, practical livelihood and
entrepreneurship.

The Institute shall play a lead role in helping students and out-of-school youths and
residents from low-income families and persons with disabilities in the Municipality of Allen
and adjacent municipalities in the Province of Northem Samar become productive and self-
reliant, and to become part of a globally competitive middle to high-level skilled labor force to
hasten the social and economic development of the Province of Northern Samar, in particular,
as well as meet the manpower needs of both local and international labor markets, in general.

‘The Institute shall consider in the design of relevant technical-vocational training
programs and courses to be offered thereat a competency assessment of the socioeconomic
profile, employment conditions and opportunities, business climate, market and industry
potentials, resources available and presence of support structures, including the literacy level
and skills readiness, and the overall development needs of the host area, Allen, and adjacent
communities within the operational radius of the Institute. It shall likewise consider the relevant
skills and trade competencies, craftsmanship training programs and entrepreneurship activities
needed to deliver the effective employment and development interventions required to make
Allen and all localities comprising the Province of Northern Samar human resource and
economic productivity hubs.

The Institute shall also serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired
competencies in technical-vocational skills in the entire Province of Northern Samar.

Priority admission to the Institute and availment of technical-vocational education
thereat, including scholarships, grants-in-aid and student financial assistance, however. shall
be given to the most disadvantaged citizens of the Municipality of Allen and to the most
economically depressed areas in the province.

Further, as deemed necessary and practicable, in coordination with the CHED and the
TESDA, the Institute shall render relevant teachers” training assistance and curriculum design
offering the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the CHED and TESDA in the
communities and areas within the operational radius of the Institute.

SEC. 4. Curricular Offering/ Training Programs. - The institute shall offer one (I)-year
to three (3)-year diploma courses and undergraduate certificate, including short-term courses
and modular trainings in diverse relevant technical-vocational and industrial technology
education to comply with employment standards in preferred market-driven labor
opportunities, but shall give premium efforts, however, to skills specialization for local market
employment requirements geared towards achieving the development needs for a robust
inclusive economy of the Municipality of Allen and the other municipalities in the Province of
Northern Samar, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the
Department of Trade and Industry (DT!), the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry
partners, and such other relevant agencies.



7
78
79

81
82
83

85
86
87
88
89
90
a1
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

14

11s

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

‘The Institute may establish, as deemed necessary and practicable, research and
technology hubs, mobile training programs, and satellite or extension training centers in
priority areas throughout the Province of Northern Samar to strengthen linkages between the
industry, the academe, and the technology programs thereat. It shall likewise adopt the use of
innovative training modes such as information technology-assisted instruction, dual learning
system, open or distance education, and community laboratory and such other instructional
programs to afford the community greater access to technical-vocational education and skills
training.

The Institute shall, as far as necessary and practicable, offer TESDA-registered
technical-vocational courses and short-term training programs. Course completion in these
programs shall be credited through skills competency assessment under National Certification
(NC) Levels I to V, as applicable, and shall further qualify for academic recognition under the
Ladderized Interface System for tertiary education, if compliant with the requirements under
said program.

The Institute shall, as necessary and practicable, offer skills development options for
higher competency qualifications in technical-industrial education, trade technology, tourism,
agricultural technology, business literacy, and innovation in TESDA-registered skills courses
as follows:
(a) Industrial education and technology, including skills training in industrial trades,
metal and steel works, machine fabrication, heavy equipment operations, automotive
mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics. and operation of power tools
and equipment for both light grade use and industrial purposes;
(b) Tourism and hospitality-related courses relating to hotel, restaurant and tourism
development management, including social communication skills training, language
proficiency courses in English and other languages for business outsourcing
employment and overseas job placement;
(©) Livelihood skills development courses for small-scale income generating
opportunities and entrepreneurship training, including practical skills education
crafts and arts, workmanship and designing (fabric, woodworks, jewelry and metal
works), agriculture and farm technology, backyard gardening and propagation,
horticulture, home-based aquaculture, livestock raising. food processing technology,
home technology, culinary arts, beauty culture, health and wellness trainings;
(@) Technical-vocational occupation such as carpentry, masonry, pluming, practical
electricity, automotive technician and servicing, electronics technician and servicing,
welding technician, personal computer (PC) servicing, and such other related technical
skills courses;
(©) Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital
technology, web design, Photoshop/online photography, computer design and
advertising;
() Seminars in personality development, carcer counseling and job placement, work
ethics and values;
(i Other preferred priority skills that may be needed by the people of Allen and relevant
to the needs of the other service areas in the Province of Northem Samar to enhance
their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment and entrepreneurship
skills.
SEC. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements.- ‘The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the conversion of the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades into the Northen
Samar Polytechnic Institute shall become operationally effective only upon the determination



127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
a7.
172
173
174
175
176

and declaration of the TESDA through the issuance of a formal recommendation and
Certificate of Compliance that the Institute has satisfactorily complied with the minimum
requirements and quality standards prescribed by the TESDA governing the following:
(a) Standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment, or conversion and
operation of TESDA polytechnic institute of technical education and TESDA
technology institution;
(b) Operational sustainability of the polytechnic institute established herein in terms of
licensed faculty/trainors and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities,
instructional materials, and other standard requirements as TESDA-accredited center;
(c) Sustainable funding source and allocation of budget requirement of the TESDA
polytechnic institute hereto established;
(d) Assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the minimum
standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and
needs of the host municipality, Allen, and adjacent areas served in the context of the
PQF and ASEAN framework for technical-vocational education; and
(©) Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities as may be necessary and
applicable in its conversion into the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute.

SEC. 6. Administration. - The Institute shall be headed by a School Superintendent
under the supervision of the TESDA and appointed by the TESDA Director General in
accordance with civil service rules and regulations and the qualification requirements and
standards for such office.

‘The School Superintendent shall render full-time services and shall be responsible for
the administration and operation of the Institute.

‘The academic and administrative staff of the Institute shall be organized following the
staffing pattern of the TESDA for such type of schools pursuant to existing laws, rules and
regulations.

SEC. 7. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. - All assets, fixed and movable, personnel,
records and documents of the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades as well as its liabilities or
obligations shall be transferred to the Institute: Provided, That the positions, rights and security
of tenure of faculty and personnel therein employed pursuant to existing laws prior to its
conversion into the Institute shall not be impaired.

All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the Balicuatro College of
Arts and Trades are hereby declared property of the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute and
shall be titled under that name: Provided, That, should the Institute cease to exist or such
aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the Institute, the same shall revert to
the local government unit (LGU) concerned, or to the Municipality of Allen, Province of
Northern Samar.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount needed to initially implement the provisions of
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Balicuatro College of
Arts and Trades. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the operation of the Northen
Samar Polytechnic Institute shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rales and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the
approval of this Act, the TESDA, in coordination with the DOLE, the DTI, the Department of


177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190

Budget and Management (DBM), the DILG, the concemed LGUs, and such other relevant
agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, shall prepare and issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section of this Act shall be
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected
and shall thereby remain in force and in effect.

SEC. 11. 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. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,