SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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■17 MAR-8 P6:20
SENATE 
RECEiVLObv..
1377
SENATE BILL NO.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MATURE OR
OLDER WORKERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
that:
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIII, Section 3 thereof, states
"The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, 
organized and unorganized, and promote full eniphn/numt and equality of 
eniphnjnient opportunities for all. .v.v.v"
Unemployment and underemployment are constant problems of the 
government. Those who are previously employed may suddenly find 
themselves jobless, while those who have never been employed might have 
less chances of being hired because of the increased competition. This trend 
absolutely places the mature and older workers at a disadvantage.
Hence, it is the purpose of this bill to establish programs to prepare 
mature or older workers for participation in the labor force by increasing 
occupational and educational skills resulting in improved long-term 
employability, and increased employment and earnings.
In view of the above, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
r/
■■
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


T.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S 't’ Uaic
o l l i l i  f.- ' ( if ia r p
•17 HI\R-8 P 6 ;20
RECClJLDbi.
SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. l o 7  t
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MATURE OR
OLDER WORKERS
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the "Mature and Older 
Workers Act."
SECTION 2. Definition of Policy - It is the policy of the State to afford full 
protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized and 
promote employment and equality of employment opportunities for all.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the term:
(A) 
Basic Skills Deficient means, with respect to an individual, that the 
Individual has English reading or computing skills at or below the 8lh grade 
level on a generally accepted standardized test or a comparable score on a 
criterion referenced test;
(B) 
Case Management means the provision, in the delivery of a service, of a 
client-centered approach designed to:
(1) 
prepare and coordinate a comprehensive employment plan, such 
as a service strategy, for a participant to ensure access to a 
necessary training and support service; and
(2) 
provide job and career counseling during program participation 
and after job placement.
(C) 
Educational Agency means:


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(1) 
a public local school authority having administrative control of 
elementary, middle or secondary schools or providing adult 
educatiiui;
(2) 
a public or private institution that provides alternative middle or 
high school education;
(3) 
a public education institution or agency having administrative 
control of secondary or post-secondary 
vocational education 
programs; or
(4) 
post-secondary institution
(D) 
Mature or Older Worker means an individual who is 40 years of age or 
older.
(E) 
Participant means an individual who has been determined to be eligible 
to participate in the program;
(F) 
School Dropout means an individual who is no longer attending any 
school and who has not received a secondary school diploma or a certificate 
from a program of equivalently for such a diploma; and
(G) 
Termination means the separation of a participant who is no longer 
receiving sei*vices.
SECTION 4. Eligibility for Services - An individual shall be eligible to 
participate in the program assisted under this part if sucli individual is forty 
(40) years of age or older and is included in one or more of the following 
categories:
(A) 
Individuals whose income is not excess of the poverty line;
(B) 
Individuals who are eligible for housing assistance; o
(C) 
Individuals who are included in two (2) or more of tlie following 
categories:
(1) Individuals who are unemployed 15 of the past 26 weeks;
(2) Individuals who are unemployed 30 of the past 52 weeks;
(3) Individuals who are working 20 or fewer hours a weeks;
(4) Individuals who are displaced homemakers;
(5) Individuals who are homeless;
(6) Individuals who have finished less than 10 years of school;


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(7) Individuals who are deficient in basic skills;
(8) Individuals who have heiMi notified that the jobs of such;
(9) Individuals will be terminated witliin the next 60 days; or
(10) Individuals who live alone.
SECTION 5. - Program Design -
(A) IN GENERAL - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS - Each program assisted 
under:
(1) 
an 
objective 
assessment, using the 
case 
management 
technique, of the skill levels and service needs of each participant, 
including such factors as basic skills, occupational skills, prior work 
experience, employability interests, aptitudes (including interests and 
aptitudes for nontraditional employment) and supportive service 
need.s, except that anew assessment of a participant is not required if 
the program determined that a recent assessment of the participant 
conducted under another education or training program, is an 
appropriate assessment;
(2) 
development of service strategies that shall identify the 
employment 
goal 
(including 
in 
appropriate 
circumstances, 
nontraditional employment), the appropriate achievement objectives, 
and the appropriate sequence of seiwice for participants, taking into 
account the assessments conducted under subparagraph (A) , exce Pt 
that a new service strategy is not nHjuired if the program determines a 
recent service strategy developed for the participant under another 
education or training program is an appropriate service strategy;
(3) 
a review of the progress of each participant in meeting the 
objectives of the service strategy; and
(4) 
basic skills training and occupational skills training if the 
assessments and the strategy indicate such training is appropriate.
(B) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS -
(1) 
MINIMUM INCOME PARTICIPANTS AND APPLICANTS - 
Each service delivery area participating in a program assisted under 
this Act shall ensure that each participant or applicant described in 
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of Section 4 shall be provided -
(a) 
information on the full array of applicable or appropriate 
services tliat are available through the service delivery area or


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Other service providers, including providers receiving funds 
under this Act; and
(b) 
Referral to other appropriate training and educational 
programs that have the capacity to serve the participant or 
applicant either on a sequential or concurrent basis.
(C) APPLICANTS NOT MELTING ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS -
(1) 
SERVICE PROVIDERS - Each service providers shall ensure 
that an eligible applicant who does not meet the enrollment 
requirements of the particular program of the provider shall be referred 
to the service delivery area for further assessment, as necessary, and 
referral to appropriate programs to meet the basic skills and training 
needs of the applicants;
(2) SERVICE DELIVERY AREA - The service delivery area shall 
ensure that appropriate referrals are made under clause (1) and 
shall maintain records on the referral and the reasons for which 
applicants are referred.
(D) AUTHORIZED SERVICES - One or more of the following training or 
supportive services shall be made available to each participation under this 
part;
(1) 
Outreach and recruitment;
(2) 
Intake and assessment;
(3) 
Job search assistance
(4) 
Classroom and occupational skills training;
(5) 
On-the-job training;
(6) 
Work experience;
(7) 
Basic and remedial education and literacy training;
(8) 
Supplemental services, including day care for dependent children 
and adults;
(9) 
Occupational placement assistance
(E) 
SPECIAL RULES -
(1) 
SELECTION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS - In the selection of 
service providers, the Department of Labor and Employment 
shall give preference to agencies and organizations with 
demonstrated competence, in conducting older and mature 
worker programs.


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(2) 
JOB TRAINING PLAN - Tlie Department of Labor and 
Employment shall develop the job training pix)gram under this 
Act. It may seek the assistance of other government agencies such 
as the Department of Education and the help of private 
educational agencies. It shall also formulate the necessary 
implementing rules and regulations that will ensure the efficient 
and effective implementation of this Act.
SECTION 6. Report - The Secretary shall submit to the President of the 
Philippines and to both Houses of Congress, not later than the opening of the 
regular session each year, an annual report on the status of the 
implementation of this Act. The annual report shall include an analysis, for 
each province and on a nationwide basis, of the number of participants served 
under this Act, and the type of services under this Act received by 
participants.
SECTION 7. Separability Clause - If any provision, or part hereof is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not 
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly.
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,