1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
Introduced by Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF A PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY 
COURSE IN THE TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
CURRICULUM 
OF 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS 
AND 
TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 
TRAINING CENTERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is 
the government agency tasked with managing and supervising technical 
education and skills development in the Philippines. Their close to three 
decades of operation have produced thousands of skilled workers in all 
aspects of the service industry. TESDA has boosted our young people's 
employability to solve the employment crisis in our country. 
However, technical competencies alone are not enough to achieve 
sustainable integration in the world of work. With the recent economic 
setback and technological advances, the right information, skills, and 
attitude on personal finance have become indispensable additions to the 
skills of our graduates of technical and vocational courses. Basic personal 
financial education will help them prepare and successfully navigate 
July 21, 2025
3:41 pm
2183


2 
 
financial realities once they are part of our labor market. 
TESDA trainings create job-ready professionals. They possess 
foundational skills, but one of the most important foundational skills is 
personal financial literacy. Personal financial literacy — from understanding 
budgeting and spending to wisely managing credit and debt — can help our 
technical-vocational graduates not only get a job but also keep it once they 
have it. 
Providing personal financial education to our job seekers is essential 
to ensuring their security and well-being in the future. A financially literate 
Filipino worker will be able to make well-informed decisions that will 
positively impact personal financial circumstances, empowering them to 
take better advantage of livelihood and economic opportunities and 
consequently 
contributing 
to 
inclusive 
and 
sustained 
economic 
development.  
It is worth highlighting that this bill was already deliberated upon by 
relevant government agencies and civil society groups during the 19th 
Congress, was approved by the House of Representatives, and was 
transmitted and received by the Senate of the Philippines. 
For the foregoing reasons, the immediate consideration and approval 
of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
JOSE MANUEL F. ALBA 
Representative, 1st District, Bukidnon 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
Introduced by Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF A PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY 
COURSE IN THE TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
CURRICULUM 
OF 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS 
AND 
TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 
TRAINING CENTERS 
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 the “Personal 
Financial Literacy Course in the Technical-Vocational Education and Training 
(TVET) Curriculum Act.”   
SEC.  2. Declaration of Policy. – Recognizing financial literacy as an 
essential life skill, as well as the complementary role of financial education 
in promoting the economic well-being of Filipinos, it is hereby declared a 
policy of the State to establish a strong foundation of financial literacy of 
2183


2 
 
students, trainees, and employees to create a more skilled, knowledgeable, 
and well-informed future generation of Filipinos.  
  
  
To this end, the State also seeks to broaden and strengthen TVET 
programs, including financial education and literacy, to enable technical-
vocational (tech-voc) students to develop the appropriate skills to make well-
informed financial decisions, and desirable work habits upon employment in 
the industries.    
  
 SEC.  3. Objectives. – This Act shall have the following objectives:  
  
(a) To ensure that technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) and Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training 
centers shall provide the necessary financial education to tech-voc 
students while at the same time helping them learn and develop 
other practical tech-voc skills and competencies;  
 
(b) To equip the students with basic knowledge and additional skills on 
wealth management and contingency planning, especially in properly 
handling their personal finances, prepare them to make well-
informed financial decisions upon entering the workforce, and help 
them master financial literacy as an important life skill in their day-
to-day transactions and other activities; and  
 
(c) To broaden the opportunities and venues for the teaching of a 
personal financial literacy course to strengthen financial education 
among Filipinos so they can avoid financial frauds, develop financial 
discipline, use debt responsibly and save for education or retirement.   
  
SEC.  4. Mandatory Inclusion of Personal Financial Literacy Course in 
the TVET Curriculum. – All public and private TVIs and TESDA training 
centers are mandated to offer a Personal Financial Literacy Course (PFLC) to 
tech-voc students as part of the TVET curriculum. It shall focus solely on 


3 
 
personal finance based on the policies, guidelines, and standards set jointly 
by the TESDA, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Finance 
(DOF), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Insurance 
Commission (IC).  
  
A passing grade in the PFLC shall be required for graduation or 
completion of the course.  
   
         SEC.  5. Contents of Personal Financial Literacy Course. – The PFLC 
shall provide instructions on personal financial literacy and shall include 
the following contents:  
  
(a) Concept of personal finance; 
(b) Time value of money;  
(c) Consumer behavior in the context and culture of the Philippines; 
(d) Debt management and rehabilitation;  
(e) Savings, emergency, and resilience fund development;  
(f) Investment concepts and planning;  
(g) Retirement planning;  
(h) Insurance planning;  
(i) Credit scoring and credit reports;  
(j) Concept of financial education; 
(k) Pertinent topics on effective utilization of digital payment platforms, 
such as modules on observing cyber-hygiene to help safeguard 
cybersecurity, data integrity, and consumer protection in adopting 
digital financial services; and 
(l) Other financial literacy issues and concerns.  
   
SEC. 6. Roles of Government Agencies, Offices, and Instrumentalities. – 
The TESDA shall collaborate with the BSP, DOF, SEC, and the IC in 
developing academic standards, curricula, and materials for the PFLC. 
These agencies shall jointly issue the proper guidelines for this purpose.       
            


4 
 
The content of the PFLC shall be aligned with the standards set by the 
aforementioned agencies.   
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
after the effectivity of this Act, the TESDA shall, in consultation with the 
BSP, DOF, and other relevant stakeholders, issue rules and regulations for 
the effective implementation of this Act.  
  
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. – In the event any of the provisions of 
this Act is declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions 
shall not be affected by such declaration.   
  
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are repealed or 
modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
   
       Approved,