Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6726

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Constitution mandates that the government makes education a
priority with the promotion and protection of the right of all citizens to
accessible quality education as an overarching and continuing commitment
to the people (Section 17, Article II; Sections 1-2, Article XIV).

Further, the Constitution provides that the State is duty-bound to
establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system
of education relevant to the needs of the people and society that includes non-
formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems as well as provide adult
citizens, the disabled and out of school youth with training in civics,
vocational efficiency and other skills (Sections 1-2, Article XIV).

In this connection, the establishment of a Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center to be
located in the Municipality of Cabagan, Isabela is strategically important in
ensuring the provision of technical-vocational education and training (TVET)
programs to students and local residents of Isabela especially those from low-
income families, out-of-school youths, farm-based youths and persons with
disabilities not only in Cabagan but also in contiguous municipalities to
enable them to learn appropriate income generating skills so as to become
self-reliant and economically productive members of their respective
communities.

‘The Center proposed in this bill is envisioned to offer training programs
on relevant skills trade competencies, craftmanship and entrepreneurship
activities including farm machinery and equipment use and maintenance that
are needed to deliver effective employment and self-propelled income
generating enterprise interventions, as well as agri-development activities that
will eventually hasten the transformation not only of the people as productive
citizens, but the area and its contiguous localities into human resource and
productivity hubs.


The Center shall also serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center
for acquired competencies in TVET in the municipality, its environs and the
province, and shall provide teacher’s training and curriculum design
assistance to the secondary schools offering the technical-vocational-
livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 program in coordination with the
TESDA and the Department of Education (DepEd).

The land upon which the Center is to be located is already in place at
the Isabela State University.

As a concrete manifestation of government's unmitigated commitment

to make education a dynamic right and democratic blessing for all citizens
especially the less privileged, the immediate approval of this bill is strongly

urged.
genes Z T. ALBANO

1st District, Isabela


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6726

Introduced by Representative ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING CENTER TO BE
KNOWN AS THE
CABAGAN TESDA TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Cabagan TESDA
Training and Assessment Center Act.

Section 2. Establishment. ~ There is hereby established a Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and
Assessment Center to be known as the Cabagan TESDA Training and
Assessment Center. It shall be established in the Municipality of Cabagan,
Isabela pursuant to the purposes of this Act and to the agreement between
the TESDA and the concerned local government unit (LGU).

Section 3. General Mandate. - The Cabagan TESDA Training and
Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily
provide technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs
including agricultural machinery operation and maintenance to students,
local residents from low-income families and out-of-school youths, farm-
based youths and persons with disabilities in the municipality of Cabagan
and immediate environs to help them learn skills to become productive, self-
reliant and economically competitive citizens.

The Center shall offer training programs on relevant skills
competencies. craftmanship and entrepreneurship activities needed to deliver


the effective employment and income generating interventions that will hasten
the development not only of Cabagan, but of the whole province and its
immediate environs.

The Center shall also serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center
for acquired competencies in TVET programs and shall provide teachers’
training and curriculum design assistance to the secondary schools offering
the technical vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the K to12 program in
coordination with the Department of Education (DepED) and TESDA.

Section 4. Training Programs. - The Center shall offer short-term
certificate courses and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational
skills and trades specialization.

To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ,
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG), National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA), business-industry partners, and such relevant agencies and
instrumentalities, both domestic and international, shall provide the
necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop skilled manpower
needed to achieve a robust and inclusive economy in the municipality and
adjacent localities.

The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology
development farms, satellite or extension training centers, and promote
mobile training programs to strengthen linkages among the industry
partners, the academe and the Center geared towards the acquisition of
practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful employment, and
entrepreneurship in the municipality, the district and the province.

The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies
assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III:

a. Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as
metal and steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, automotive
mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics and
operation of power tools and equipment for both medium skills grade
and industrial purposes;

b. Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills
development in such areas as farming technology, fishing operations
technology, backyard farming and home-based aquaculture and
propagation innovations, mechanized farm tools and equipment
operation, agri- business, agri-aqua trade technology and
innovations, and relevant farmers’ and fisherfolks’ trainings for
increased productivity and entrepreneurship;


c. Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills
employment and small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical
skills education in arts and craft, workmanship and design, high-
speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture, livestock
raising and breeding, food processing technology, home technology,
culinary arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology, and health and
wellness training;

d. Basic business literacy training in financial management and
marketing, practical accountancy, bookkeeping and office
procedures, business processes and application procedures
including registration, licensing, documentation, business patent
and intellectual property regulation, business financing and
investment opportunities sourcing, import-export accreditation,
online home-based business operation and the use of social media
business marketing;

e. Technical-vocational occupation and trade skills such as carpentry,
masonry, plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation,
automotive servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer (PC)
servicing, and such other relevant practical skills courses;

f. Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills,
digital technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online
photography, computer design, and advertising;

g. Social communication skills development and language proficiency
courses in English and other languages for business process
outsourcing employment and overseas job placement;

h. Seminars on personality development, career counselling and job
placement, work ethic and values; and

i, Other preferred priority skills and trades training that may be
needed by the people of the locality and other municipalities of the
province to enhance their capabilities for practical livelihood, gainful
employment, and entrepreneurial activities.

Section 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of
this Act, notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon the
determination and certification by the TESDA through the issuance of a
formal recommendation and certificate of compliance, that the Center has
satisfactorily complied with the minimum requirements for quality standards
prescribed by the TESDA governing the following competency assessment : (a)
standard procedures and guidelines for the establishment and operation of a
Center; (b) operational sustainability of the Center in terms of licensed faculty
trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities,


instructional materials, and other standard requirements of a Center; (c)
sustainable funding source and allocation of budget requirement; (d)
assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the
minimum standard of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills
technology and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served
in the context if the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Integration and the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) for TVET; and
(e) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards as may
be necessary and applicable in establishing a Center.

Section 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-
Vocational Administrator under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall
render full-time services and be responsible for the administration and
operation of the Center.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the
TESDA Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Civil Service Commission and the qualification requirements for such office.

Subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General, the Technical-
Vocational Administrator shall enter into agreements with locally based
private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons, for
such assistance as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act.

Section 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act, and its continued implementation shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90)
days from the approval of this Act, the TESDA shall prepare and issue the
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act in coordination with
the DOLE, DTI, DA, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Section 9. Separability Clause. -If, for any reason, any provision of this
Act is deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions shall remain
in force and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees,
instructions, rules and regulations and any provision thereof contrary to or
inconsistent with this Act or any provision thereof shall be deemed repealed
or amended accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30)

days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,