EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 1656
DATE
TH.1E
NDEX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAWAYAN, 
PROVINCE OF BILIRAN, TO BE KNOWN AS THE KAWAYAN TESDA 
TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Section 1 of our Constitution guarantees 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." Education is a 
fundamental right of every Filipino.
The Lone District of Biliran is composed of eight (8) municipalities, namely: 
Almerla, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Maripipi and Naval. The only 
TESDA training center in the province is located in the Municipality of Cabucgayan, 
which is very far from the Capital City of Naval, which serves as the hub of trade and 
industry in the province. Additionally, it is burdensome for learners to travel to a far- 
flung area away from their residents. Aside from extra costs, they also have to sacrifice 
their time to travel.
This measure aims to establish the TESDA Training and Assessment Center in the 
Municipality of Kawayan, Province of Biliran to be known as Kawayan TESDA Training 
and Assessment Center, which will serve the Municipalities of Maripipi, Kawayan and 
Culaba. This also Intends to equip the people of the Province of Biliran with basic 
practical knowledge and technical expertise, geared towards a society that is self- 
reliant and employable.
The speedy passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
« /l. /iKcwo*/"
imee"rTmarcos


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. 1656
DATE
TH.1E
NobX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAWAYAN, 
PROVINCE OF BILIRAN, TO BE KNOWN AS THE KAWAYAN TESDA 
TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Kawayan TESDA
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Training and Assessment Center Act."
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SEC. 2. Establishment - There is hereby established a Technical Education and 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training and assessment center in the 
Municipality of Kawayan, Province of Biliran, under the supervision of the TESDA, to 
be known as the Kawayan TESDA Training and Assessment Center. It shall be 
established in a highly accessible location in the Municipality of Kawayan, pursuant to 
the purposes of this Act and to the agreement between the TESDA and the concerned 
local government units (LGUs).
SEC. 3. General Mandate. - The Kawayan TESDA Training and Assessment 
Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide technical- 
vocational education and training (TVET) programs to students and local residents 
from low-income families and out-of-school youths, including persons with disabilities 
and indigenous peoples, in the Municipality of Kawayan, and the neighboring localities 
in the Province of Biliran, to help them become productive, self-reliant and globally 
competitive labor assets.
The Center shall provide effective employment interventions through training 
programs on relevant skills trade competencies, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship 
activities that will help hasten the development of the host area and the adjacent 
localities in the Province of Biliran into human resource and productivity hubs.
The Center shall serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired 
competencies in TVET programs in the Municipality of Kawayan and adjacent localities
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in the Province of Biliran. It shall also provide teachers' training and curriculum design
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assistance to the secondary schools offering the technical-vocational livelihood track
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under the K to 12 Program in coordination with the Department of Education and the
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TESDA.
SEC. 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 and Development Authority (NEDA), business- 
industry partners, and other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and 
international, shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop 
skilled manpower to achieve a robust and inclusive economy in the host area and its 
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 priority areas in the Municipality of 
Kawayan and neighboring localities in the. Province of Biliran.
The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies 
assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III;
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(s) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and
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steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, automotive
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mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools
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and equipment for both medium skills grade and industrial purposes;
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(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, fishing 
tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and 
innovations, and relevant farmers and fisherfolk's 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 crafts, 
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;
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(d) Basic business literacy training in financial management and marketing,
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practical accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures, business processes and
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application procedures including registration, licensing, documentation, business
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patent and intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment
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opportunities sourcing, import-export accreditation, online home-based business 
operation and use of social media business marketing;
(e) Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, 
masonry, plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive 
servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer servicing, and such other relevant 
practical skills courses;
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(f) Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, digital
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technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography, computer design
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and advertising;
(g) Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English and 
other languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job 
placement;
(h) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placement, 
and work ethic and values; and
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(i) Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people
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of the Municipality of Kawayan and of the other localities of the Province of Biliran to
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enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and
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entrepreneurial activities.
SEC. 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 
standards of quality prescribed by TESDA governing the following: (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 the budgetary requirement; (d) full alignment of the training programs offered with 
the minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills 
technology and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served within 
the context of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration and the 
Philippine Qualification Framework for TVET; and e) compliance with such other 
TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may be necessary and applicable in 
establishing a Center.
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SEC. 6. Administration.—The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational
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Administrator who shall be under the supervision of the TESDA, render full-time
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service, and be responsible for the administration and operation of the Center.
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The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA
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Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service
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Commission and the qualification requirements for such office.


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The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter into agreements with locally-
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based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons for
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such assistance as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act, subject to the
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approval of the TESDA Director General.
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SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The Director General of the TESDA shall include in
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the Authority's program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shall be
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The LGUs concerned, in consultation with the TESDA, shall set aside from any 
available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to 
support the operation of the Center herein established.
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after 
the approval of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST, 
DA, Department of Budget and Management, DILG, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and 
such other relevant agencies and Industry-business partners of the host locality, 
prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
of this Act.
SEC. 9. 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 remain in force and effect.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are 
repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 11. EffectMty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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