1 
      Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative JESUS R. MARQUEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to create a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the Municipality of Balete, Province of 
Aklan. It aims to provide access to those who come from poor families in the district, 
where Balete is an ideal convergence point for services in the district. This measure aims 
to bring technical-vocational education closer to the people, particularly those from poor 
and marginalized families who aspire for gainful employment and upward mobility. 
The Center will provide accessible and affordable skills development and 
certification programs, serving not only Balete but also its neighboring towns. By 
investing in technical and vocational education, this bill envisions a future where the 
youth, out-of-school individuals, and underprivileged workers are empowered with 
competencies that meet the demands of both local and global labor markets.  
Anchored on the constitutional principle that “those who have less in life should 
have more in law,” this legislative proposal reinforces the State’s duty to promote social 
justice and defend the rights and welfare of labor. It is firmly grounded in Article II, 
Section 10 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates the State to promote 
social justice in all phases of national development, and Article XIII, Section 3, which calls 
for the protection and advancement of labor. 
Moreover, this bill draws inspiration from the Supreme Court’s landmark 
pronouncement in Calalang v. Williams, which defined social justice as “neither 
communism, nor despotism, nor atomism, nor anarchy, but the humanization of laws and 
the equalization of social and economic forces by the State so that justice in its rational 
and objectively secular conception may at least be approximated.” This definition 
demands active state intervention in uplifting disadvantaged sectors and ensuring fair 
access to the benefits of national growth. 
August 5, 2025
4:32 pm
3128


2 
To concretize this vision, the bill proposes the establishment of a TESDA Training 
and Assessment Center in Balete, Aklan, which will serve as a catalyst for transformation 
by enhancing technical capabilities, promoting innovation, safeguarding traditional 
knowledge, and generating sustainable economic opportunities. As a historic and 
economic hub for various traditional crafts and livelihood activities, Balete has preserved 
living traditions, from agricultural production to intricate handicrafts that define regional 
identity and support both local and global markets. These industries have significantly 
contributed to the country’s creative sectors and national economy 
Let this measure be more than a legislative act, recognizing the labor, artistry, and 
cultural heritage of the laborers and communities of the Municipality of Balete.  
In view of the foregoing, my earnest prayer is for the immediate and favorable 
passage of this bill. 
 HON.  JESUS “Jess” R. MARQUEZ


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative JESUS R. MARQUEZ 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT 
CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BALETE, PROVINCE OF AKLAN, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment of a Training and Assessment Center in 
1 
Municipality of Balete, Province of Aklan – There is hereby established a training and 
2 
assessment center, under the supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development 
3 
Authority (TESDA), to be known as the “Aklan District TESDA Training and Assessment Center”. 
4 
It shall be located in a highly accessible area in the Municipality of Balete, Province of Aklan, 
5 
pursuant to the purposes of this Act and the agreement between the TESDA and the concerned 
6 
local government units (LGUs).   
7 
8 
 SEC 2. General Mandate. – The Aklan District TESDA Training and Assessment 
9 
Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide relevant and quality 
10 
technical-vocational education and training (TVET), including practical short-term specialty 
11 
courses and one (1) year to three (3) year TESDA registered technical-vocational skills training 
12 
programs and certificate courses, to out-of-school youths, high school students and graduates, 
13 
unemployed and underemployed adults, workers in the informal sector, persons with disabilities 
14 
and ethnic indigenous people, and, residents from low-income families in the Municipality of 
15 
Balete and adjacent municipalities in the Province of Aklan. 
16 
17 
The Center shall play a pivotal role in helping the local residents become productive, self-
18 
reliant and to develop into competitive middle-to high-level skilled labor force so as to hasten the 
19 
social and economic development of Aklan Province, as well as meet the needs of both local and 
20 
international labor markets. The Center shall consider, in the design of relevant TVET programs 
21 
to be offered therein, the preferred skills categories based on identified development targets to 
22 
propel the province to becoming a skilled human resource and economic productivity hub. 
23 
24 
3128


4 
 
The Center shall also serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired 
1 
competencies in technical-vocational skills in the Province of Aklan. 
2 
 
3 
The Center, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the TESDA, 
4 
shall offer relevant teachers' training assistance and curriculum design to the secondary schools 
5 
providing the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of the DepEd 
6 
in the Municipality of Balete and neighboring localities in the Province of Aklan.  
7 
  
8 
 SEC 3. Training Programs – The Center, in consultation with the Department of 
9 
Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of 
10 
Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of 
11 
Science and Technology (DOST), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), locally 
12 
and internationally-based business industry partners, and other relevant agencies, shall offer 
13 
diverse short-term certificate courses and modular trainings in relevant technical-vocational 
14 
skills and trade specialization to comply with employment standards in preferred and emerging 
15 
market-driven labor opportunities. The Center shall spearhead training programs in new skills to 
16 
respond to market trends towards attaining a robust inclusive economy in the host sites and in 
17 
the adjacent localities and communities in the Province of Aklan. 
18 
 
19 
The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology development farms, 
20 
mobile training programs, and satellite or extension training centers in priority areas throughout 
21 
the Municipality of Balete and neighboring localities in the Province of Aklan to serve the 
22 
manpower needs of the area and strengthen the linkages among the industry, the academe, and 
23 
the Center. 
24 
 
25 
The Center shall offer the following TESDA-registered technical-vocational training 
26 
programs with competencies assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III to increase 
27 
the livelihood assets and competitive productivity of the Municipality of Balete, and the 
28 
neighboring localities in the Province of Aklan: 
29 
 
30 
(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and steel works, 
31 
machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, automotive 
32 
mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools 
33 
and equipment for both medium skills grade and industrial purposes; 
34 
(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related training and skills development in such areas as 
35 
farming-fishing operations technology, backyard farming and homebased aquaculture 
36 
and propagation innovation, mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment 
37 
operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and innovation, and relevant 
38 
farmers' and fisher folk's continuing training for increased productivity and 
39 
entrepreneurship; 
40 


5 
 
(c) Social communication skills development, language proficiency courses in English and 
1 
other languages for business process outsourcing (call center) employment and 
2 
overseas job placement; 
3 
(d) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and small-scale 
4 
entrepreneurship (including practical skills education in crafts and arts), 
5 
workmanship and designing (such as fabric, woodworks, jewelry, and metal works), 
6 
high-speed sewing, dressmaking, and tailoring, agriculture and farm technology, 
7 
horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home 
8 
technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking (including baking), beauty culture 
9 
(such as cosmetology, hail and nail styling) and health and wellness training; 
10 
(e) Basic business literacy training in financial management and marketing, practical 
11 
accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures, business processes and application 
12 
procedures including registration, licensing, documentation, business patent and 
13 
intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment opportunities 
14 
sourcing, import-export accreditation, including online home-based business 
15 
operation and use of social media business marketing; 
16 
(f) Technical-vocational occupation and trade skills such as carpentry, masonry, 
17 
plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive servicing, 
18 
electronics servicing, personal computer servicing, and other relevant practical skills 
19 
courses; 
20 
(g) Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital technology, 
21 
web design, animation, photoshop/online photography, computer design and 
22 
advertising; 
23 
(h) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placement, and work 
24 
ethics and values; and 
25 
(i) Other preferred priority skills and trade trainings that may be utilized by the people of 
26 
the Province of Aklan for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and 
27 
entrepreneurial activities. 
28 
 
29 
SEC  6. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act 
30 
notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon the issuance by the TESDA of a 
31 
formal recommendation and certificate of compliance attesting that the Center has satisfactorily 
32 
complied with the minimum standards of quality it has prescribed governing the following: (a) 
33 
standard procedures and guidelines for the establishment and operation of a Center; (b) 
34 
operational sustainability of the Center, in terms of licensed faculty-trainers and personnel, 
35 
equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials, and other standard 
36 
requirements of a Center; (c) sustainable funding source and allocation of the budgetary 
37 
requirement; (d) full alignment of the training programs offered with the minimum standards of 
38 
competency-based quality technical vocational skills technology and the needs of the host area 
39 
and adjacent communities served within the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
40 
integration and the Philippine Qualifications Framework for TVET; and (e) compliance with such 
41 


6 
 
other TESDA conditionalities and standards as may be necessary and applicable in establishing a 
1 
Center.  
2 
 
3 
 SEC 7. Administration – The Center shall be headed by a Technical Vocational 
4 
Administrator who shall render full-time service and be responsible for its administration and 
5 
operation, under the supervision of the TESDA.  
6 
 
7 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA Director 
8 
General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission and the 
9 
qualification requirements for such office. 
10 
 
11 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator may enter into agreements with locally-based 
12 
private and public counterpart agencies, instrumentalities or persons, and seek such assistance as 
13 
may be  necessary to effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director 
14 
General. 
15 
 
16 
SEC 8. Appropriations. – The Director-General of the TESDA shall include in the 
17 
Authority's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the 
18 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
19 
 
20 
The LGUs concerned, in consultation with the TESDA, shall set aside from any available 
21 
local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support the operation 
22 
of the Center herein established. 
23 
 
24 
SEC 9.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days after the 
25 
effectivity of this Act, the TESDA, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DA Department of Budget 
26 
and Management (DBM), DILG, DOST, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant 
27 
agencies and industry-business partners of the host localities, and the provincial government shall 
28 
formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act. 
29 
 
30 
SEC 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act 
31 
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof shall not be 
32 
affected and shall remain in force and in effect. 
33 
 
34 
SEC 11. Repealing clause. -All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and 
35 
regulation or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
36 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
37 
 
38 
SEC 12. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
39 
the official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
40 
 
41 
Approved,