Introduced by: HON ISIDRO T. UNGAB 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DISTRICT 
OFFICE IN DAVAO CITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA) district office in Davao City to provide training programs and services to more clients 
in the region. 
TESDA was established through the enactment of Republic Act No. 7796, otherwise 
known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994,” to encourage the full 
participation of and mobilize the industry, labor, local government units and technical-
vocational institutions in the skills development of the country’s human resources. 
TESDA has implemented various reforms on industry-based training programs, and 
provided assistance on apprenticeship, dual training system and other similar devices. Guided 
by its principle, “TESDA Abot Lahat”, TESDA compassionately extended its reach to provide 
relevant, efficient, accessible and quality technical education and skills development programs 
and services through its regional and provincial offices. TESDA has consistently earned high 
trust and approval ratings from the people, through its uninterrupted services through the 
years. 
However, as the population grows, more and more clients are seeking technical 
education and skills development programs and services, and TESDA acknowledges that it 
cannot accommodate all these clients due to lack of personnel, sheer volume of clients and 
the geographical size of the service area of provincial offices. 
In Davao region, the TESDA Provincial Office of Davao del Sur covers the City of Davao, 
which is one of the service areas with the largest clients availing the Technical Vocational 
Education and Training (TVET) programs and services. The number of training institutions 
registered under the Unified TVE Program Registration and Accreditation System (UPRAS), 
number of technical vocational and training institutions, and number of accredited 
assessment centers and competent assessors and trainers and targets are greater in Davao 
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del Sur compared to other provinces within the region. The purpose of TESDA Abot Lahat 
program to reach out and serve more clients may not  be completely and effectively achieved 
in certain areas like Davao City, due to its geographical size and large population growth rate. 
Further, it is necessarily underscored that there are only seven (7) regular personnel that 
implement, coordinate and monitor the delivery of TVET programs both in Davao City and in 
the province of Davao del Sur. Most of the challenges are likewise felt and experienced in 
other provinces in the different regions in the country. Moreover, Davao City is now a highly 
urbanized city, which needs to be catered separately from the Provincial Office based in Digos, 
Davao del Sur. 
Premises considered, the establishment of a district office in Davao City is clearly 
necessary in order to bolster TESDA Abot Lahat Program, in its aims to expand and strengthen 
its mandate and services to all, reach out and serve new partners and clients with a clear 
objective, and transform and improve the lives of poor Filipinos. Having a TESDA district office 
in Davao City will not only help the agency evolve into an organization that is responsive, 
effective, and efficient in delivering myriad services to its clients but will also accomplish its 
multi-pronged mission geared towards yielding the highest impact on manpower 
development in various areas, industry sectors and institutions. It is high time to allow TESDA 
to establish a district office in Davao City and upgrades its personnel for a seamless 
implementation, monitoring and coordination of all its programs and services. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is urgently sought. 
ISIDRO T. UNGAB 


 
Introduced by: HON ISIDRO T. UNGAB 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DISTRICT 
OFFICE IN DAVAO CITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. There is hereby established a regular district office of the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the City of Davao, to be known as the 
“TESDA-Davao City District Office”. It shall be located in a highly accessible area in the City of 
Davao.  
SEC. 2. The TESDA-Davao City District Office shall serve the City of Davao and its 
adjacent localities. 
SEC. 3. The TESDA shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern for 
the TESDA-Davao City District Office and submit the same to the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) for approval. 
SEC. 4. The Secretary General of TESDA shall immediately include the 
operationalization of the TESDA-Davao City District Office in the program of TESDA, the initial 
funding of which shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the existing 
TESDA Davao del Sur Provincial Office. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued 
operation of the TESDA-Davao City district Office shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 7. This act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,