Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

5600

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by the Honorable Ann K. Hofer

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On October 1, 2012, Executive Order (EO) No. 83 Series of 2012 entitled
“Institutionalization of the Philippine Qualifications Framework" has been issued. The
Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) is a national policy that describes the levels of
educational qualifications and sets the standards for qualifications outcome.

It is a quality-assured system based on standards of knowledge, skills, and values
acquired in different ways and methods by leamers and workers. It is a competency-based,
labor-market driven and assessment-based qualification recognition which has the following
objectives:

a) adopt national standards and levels of outcomes of education;

b) support the development of pathways and equivalences; and

c) align with international qualifications frameworks to support the mobility of workers.

Although a law is yet to be enacted to institutionalize the PQF, Section 4 of Republic
Act 10647 or the Ladderized Education Act of 2014 already recognized the significance of the
PQF and establishment of the PQF-NCC as the main vehicle for the development of a
ladderized education program.

This bill, therefore, seeks to institutionalize the Philippine Qualifications Framework
(PQF) to encourage lifelong learning of individuals, provide employers specific training
standards and qualifications that are aligned to industry standards, ensure the training and
educational institutions adhere to specific standards and are accountable for achieving the
same, and provide the government with common taxonomy and typology of qualifications as
bases for granting approvals to stakeholders.

This bill shall likewise establish the National Coordinating Council for Education that
will coordinate and harmonize education and training policies at all levels of education in the

country.


In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is eamestly sought.

ry

ANX K{HOFER
Second Djstrict, Zamboanga Sibugay


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

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

5600

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by the Honorable ANN K. HOFER

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK
(PQF) AND ESTABLISHING THE PQF-NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL,

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 “Philippine Qualifications
Framework (PQF) Act of 2017.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. Pursuant to the Constitutional guarantee for the State to
promote the right of all citizens to quality and accessible education at all levels, the State shall
establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education
relevant to the needs of the people and society.

In recognition of the important role of education and training in national development,
it is hereby declared the policy of the State to institutionalize the Philippine Qualifications
Framework (PQF) to encourage lifelong learning of individuals, provide employees specific
training standards and qualifications aligned with industry standards, ensure that training and
educational institutions comply with specific standards and are accountable for achieving
corresponding leaning outcomes, and provide government with a common taxonomy and
qualifications typology as bases for recognizing education and training programs as well as the
qualifications formally awarded and their equivalents.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) Basic Education refers to the education intended to meet basic learning needs which
provides the foundation on which subsequent learning can be based. It encompasses
kindergarten, elementary and secondary education as well as altemnative learning
systems for out-of-school youth and those with special needs;


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() Higher Education refers to post-secondary education offered usually by
universities, colleges, academies, or professional/technical institutions with
programs leading to academic degrees at the baccalaureate level and academic
degrees, diplomas or certificates at the post-baccalaureate levels;

(©) POF refers to the Philippine Qualifications Framework, a national policy which
describes the levels of educational qualifications and set the standards for
qualification outcomes. It is a quality assured national system for the development,
recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skills and
values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers of a certain
country;

() Qualification refers to a formal certification that a person has successfully achieved
learning outcomes relevant to the identified academic, industry or community
requirements. A qualification confers official recognition of value in the labor
market and in further education and training;

(e) Secretariat refers to the permanent technical secretariat that provides support to the
PQF-NCC;

() Technical Vocational Education and Training refers to education involving the
study of technologies and related sciences, in addition to general education, as well
as the acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of
economic life and social life, comprises formal (organized programs as part of the
school system) and non-formal (organized classes outside the school system)
approaches; and

(g) Trifocalized Education and Training refers to the shared administration of the
education system by three agencies responsible for each education level: the
department of education for basic education; the technical education skills
development authority for technical-vocational education and training; and the
commission on higher education for higher education.

SEC. 4. Philippine Qualifications Framework (POF). The PQF has the following
objectives:

(a) To adopt national standards and levels of learning outcomes of education;

(b) To support the development and maintenance of pathways and equivalencies that
enable access to qualifications and assist individuals to move easily and readily
between the different education and training sectors and between these sectors and
the labor market; and

(c) To align with international qualifications framework (e.g., the ASEAN
Qualifications Reference Framework), thereby enhancing recognition of the value
and comparability of Philippine qualifications and supporting the mobility of
Filipino students and workers.


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78 SEC. 5. Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating Council (POF-
76 NCC). To harmonize and promote a seamless education and training system, the PQF National
77 Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) is hereby established. It shall be composed of the following:
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79 (a) Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd);
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81 (b) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
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83 (c) Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
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85 (d) Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
86 (TESDA);
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88 (e) Chairperson, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); and
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90 (f) One representative of the Economic Sector.
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92 The PQF-NCC shall be chaired by the DepEd Secretary.
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94 The following are the powers and functions of the PQF-NCC:
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96 (a) Harmonizes qualification levels across basic, technical vocational and higher
7 education;
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99 (b) Aligns education standards and learning outcomes with the level descriptors
100 contained in the PQF;
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102 (c) Promotes the PQF and its elements including but not limited to their principles, key
103 features, definitions or terminologies, structure and governance arrangements and
104 provides information and guidelines in the implementation of the PQF;
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106 (d) Rationalizes the quality assurance mechanisms in Philippine education;
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108 (e) Develops and recognizes pathways and equivalencies;
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110 (f) Maintains the national registry of qualifications;
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112 (g) Ensures the international alignment of the PQF with the qualification frameworks
113 of other countries or regions;
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115 (h) Creates Technical Working Group in support of the development and
116 implementation of the PQF;
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118 (i) Represents the country in international fora or negotiations in line with
119 qualifications agreemenis/arrangements;
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121 (j) Reviews and updates the PQF;

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(k) Submits to the Office of the President, Senate of the Philippines and House of
Representatives report on the progress, updates and accomplishments in the
realization of the PQF; and

(1) Performs such other functions that may be related to the implementation of the PQF.

SEC. 6. Establishment of Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating
Council (PQF-NCC) Working Groups. To pursue the implementation of the PQF, working
groups shall be established, especially in the areas of qualifications register, quality assurance,
pathways and equivalencies, information and guidelines and international alignment.

Each working group shall be chaired by a member-agency as may be designated by the
PQF-NCC.

SEC. 7. Participation of the Industry Sector. Industry sector representatives shall be
consulted and tapped in the development and implementation of the PQF to ensure the
alignment of educational outcomes with industry requirements and to the value of
qualifications with the workplace.

SEC. 8. Framework and Level Descriptors. The PQF shall incorporate the
qualifications level descriptors defined in terms of the following: knowledge, skills and values,
application, and degree of independence.

The PQF-NCC shall make detailed descriptors for each qualification level following:
the principles of iflong learning and the recognition of prior learning from previous informal
experiences while incorporating the learning standards in basic education, competency
standards of training regulations, and the policies and standards of higher education academic
programs. The PQF-NCC members shall jointly implement national pilot programs to
determine its relevance and applicability in all levels of education. The DOLE shall provide
the necessary and updated labor market information regarding demand for specific
qualifications and emerging occupations as bases for the prioritization of learning standards
development.

SEC. 9. Review of Assessment System. The PRC and CHED shall review the system of
assessment of leaning outcomes and align them with those of the PQF.

SEC. 10. Technical Secretariat. THE PQF-NCC shall organize a permanent Technical
Secretariat. The Secretariat may contract the services of technical experts and authorities on
relevant areas of concern such as equivalencies, accreditation, curriculum development,
educational measurement and testing.

The PQF-NCC shall determine the structure, composition, staff qualifications and the
location of the permanent Technical Secretariat.

SEC. 11. Identification of Priority Sectors. As a preliminary approach to the
implementation of the PQF and to ensure its more focused implementation, CHED, TESDA
and DepEd, in consultation with industry, DOLE, PRC, the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTD, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) and other related agencies, are directed to identify priority sectors and
programs for the PF, taking into account labor market realities.


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SEC. 12. Support from Other Government Agencies. The DOST, NEDA, Department
of Budget and Management (DBM), and other related agencies are hereby mandated to extend
the necessary support and provide relevant inputs towards the effective implementation of the
POF.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be sourced from the current budgets and development funds of CHED, TESDA and
DepEd. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act in the
ensuing years shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 14. Jmplementing Rules and Regulations. The DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DOLE
and PRC, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue within ninety (90) days after
the effectivity of this Act, the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions, which are not affected thereby, shall continue to
be in full force and effect.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive
orders or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 17. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (115) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,