NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
•( tiK ^rrrftni'f
72 JUL-4 A 8 30
SENATE 
s! No.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8759, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE ACT OF 1999, AS AMENDED, 
TO INCLUDE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE SCOPE OF THE LAW, TO 
RENAME THE PRESENT PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE (PESO) 
INTO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSFIIP OFFICE 
(PEESO), AND TO ESTABLISH THE BARANGAY EMPLOYMENT AND 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFICES (BEESO) NATIONWIDE, DEEINING ITS 
ROLE WITFIIN THE EXISTING NETWORK, PROVIDING EUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the policy of the State to provide adequate and quality employment and to 
promote equal employment opportunities for all Filipinos. The 1987 Constitution 
likewise recognizes the important role of entrepreneurs in achieving economic 
growth.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that about 2.87 million Filipinos 
were unemployed in March 2022. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate increased 
from 14% in February to 15.8% in March 2022.
Research group IBON even disclosed that while the Philippines is among the 
fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, it has, however, the worst 
unemployment rate in the region at the onset of this year.


The Department of Trade and Industry reported that entrepreneurs have 
managed to generate 62.4% of the country's employment or over five (5) million jobs. 
Inarguably, the entrepreneurs play a key role in creating job opportunihes and 
consequently in stimulating the economic growth of the country.
In this regard, this bill seeks to promote entrepreneurship by including it in the 
coverage of the current Public Employment Service Office (PESO) law. Under the 
proposed measure, the PESO shall be renamed to Public Employment and 
Entrepreneurship Office (PEESO), and a Barangay Employment and 
Entrepreneurship Service Office (BEESO) shall be created, which shall provide a more 
efficient system that would facilitate and regulate the labor market by bridging the 
gap between the job seekers and employers.
This measure further aims to offer employment and entrepreneurship 
opportunities tailored and suited to each job seeker through various training and 
consultations. Finally, this bill intends to not only educate the Filipino job seekers on 
the programs and services of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) but 
also on the importance of entrepreneurship.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
FGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
I':.;
of tl)f 3fC"riru'p
’22 JUL-4 A 8 30
SENATE 
S. No. 7
RHCtiVfc'u
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO, 8759, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE ACT OF 1999, AS AMENDED, 
TO INCLUDE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE SCOPE OF THE LAW, TO 
RENAME THE PRESENT PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE (PESO) 
INTO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFICE 
(PEESO), AND TO ESTABLISH THE BARANGAY EMPLOYMENT AND 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFICES (BEESO) NATIONWIDE, DEFINING ITS 
ROLE WITHIN THE EXISTING NETWORK, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8759, otherwise known as the 'Public
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Employment Sendee Office Act of 1999", as amended by Republic Act No. 10691, is
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hereby further amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 3. Establishment of the Public Employment AND
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP Service Office AND THE BARANGAY
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EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFICE. - To carry out
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the above declared policy, there shall be established in all provinces,
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cities, and municipalities a Public Employment AND
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP Service Office, hereinafter referred to as
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TEESO'.
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TO SUPPORT THE PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL PEESO, A
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BARANGAY EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSFIIP OFFICE,


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HEREIN REFERRED TO AS 'BEESO', SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN 
ALL BARANGAYS NATIONWIDE. THE BEESO SHALL EXTEND THE 
REACH OF THE MUNICIPAL PEESO TO THE RURAL AREAS 
WHERE THE BULK OF EMPLOYMENT MODE IS NOT WAGE-BASED 
BUT BASED ON SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND AVAILMENT OF 
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES. THE CREATION OF THE BEESO 
SEEKS TO HELP IMPROVE THE ACCESS OF THE RURAL 
WORKFORCE TO EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP 
SERVICES.
THE PEESO AND THE BEESO shall be operated and maintained 
by local government units (LGUs). The PEESOs AND THE BEESOs shall 
be linked to the regional offices of the Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE) for coordination and technical supervision, and to 
the DOLE central office, to constitute the national public employment 
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP service network.
The PEESO OR BEESO, AS THE CASE MAY BE, shall be under 
the office of the governor, city municipal mayor, and barangay 
chairman. The PEESO OR BEESO, AS THE CASE MAY BE, shall be 
initially organized by and composed of a PEESO OR BEESO manager 
and may be assisted by a labor and employment officer (LEO) as may be 
determined by the LGU.
Upon the request of accredited Non-Governmental 
Organizations (NGOs) or Educational Institutions (Els), the DOLE may 
enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for the NGO and El to 
establish, operate and maintain a PEESO AND BEESO and a job 
placement office, respectively.
To harmonize the provision of employment AND 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP services in a given territorial jurisdiction, the 
PEESO AND BEESO at the NGOs and the job placement office in Els 
shall coordinate their activities with the appropriate LGU PEESO OR 
BEESO, AS THE CASE MAYBE. "


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Sec. 2. Section 4 of RA 8759, as amended by RA 10691, is hereby
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amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 4. Objectwes of the PEESO AND BEESO. - In general, the
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PEESO AND BEESO shall ensure the prompt, timely, and efficient
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delivery of employment AND ENTREPRENEURIAL services and
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provision of information on the other DOLE programs.
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Specifically, the PEESO/BEESO shall:
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(a) Provide a venue where people could explore simultaneously
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various wage employment AND ENTREPRENEURIAL option
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and [actually] seek the assistance they prefer;
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(b) Serve as referral and information center for the various services
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and programs of DOLE and other government agencies present
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in the area;
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(c) Provide clients with adequate information on
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP, employment, and labor market situation
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in the area;
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(d) Network with other PEESOs AND BEESOs within the region on
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employment for job exchange purposes[.] AND WITH OTHER
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GOVERNMENT, NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS WELL
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AS WITH THE PRIVATE AND BUSINESS SECTORS FOR
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INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL
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OPPORTUNITIES/'
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Sec. 3. Section 5 of RA 8759, as amended by RA 10691, is hereby further
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amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 5. Functions of the PEESO AND BEESO. The PEESO and
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BEESO shall have the following functions:
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(a) Encourage employers to REGULARLY submit to the PEESO
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AND BEESO [on a regular basis] a list of job vacancies in their
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respective establishments in order to facilitate the exchange of
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labor market information between job seekers and employers by
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providing employment information services to job seekers, both


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for local and overseas employment, and recruitment assistance to 
employers;
(b) Develop and administer testing and evaluation instruments for 
effective job selection, training, and counselling;
(c) 
SERVE AS VENUE FOR CONVERGENCE BY THE 
APPROPRIATE AGENCIES TO [Pjprovide persons with 
[qualities] ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENHANCEMENT 
INTERVENTIONS, access to the various livelihood and self- 
employment and information programs offered by both 
government and non-governmental organizations at the 
provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels by undertaking 
referrals for such program;
(d) Undertake employability enhancement training[s] or seminars 
for job seekers, as well as those who would like to change careers 
or enhance their employability;
(e) Provide employment or occupational counseling, career 
guidance, mass motivation, and values development activities;
(f) Conduct pre-employment counseling and orientation to 
prospective local and, most especially, overseas workers;
(g) Provide reintegration assistance services to returning Filipino 
migrant workers;
(h) Prepare and submit to the local Sanggunian an annual 
employment FACILITATION plan and budget including other 
regular funding sources and budgetary support of the PEESO 
AND THE BEESO; [and]
(i) REFER JOB APPLICANTS WHO MAY NEED FURTHER 
TRAINING OR RETRAINING TO THE TECHNICAL 
EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 
(TESDA) COMMUNITY TRAINING FOR EMPLOYMENT 
COORDINATOR (CTEC) AND OTHER TRAINING OR 
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS; AND,


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(j) "Perform such functions as to fully carry out the objectives of this
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Act."
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Sec. 4. Section 6 of RA 8759, as amended by RA 10691, is hereby further
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amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 6. Other Sennces of the PEESO AND BEESO. - In addition to
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the functions enumerated in the preceding section, THE PROVINCIAL
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PEESO SHALL CONDUCT PERIODIC JOB CLEARANCE MEETINGS
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WITH ALL THE MUNICIPAL AND CITY PEESOS WITHIN ITS AREA
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OF JURISDICTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELIMINATING
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DUPLICATIONS IN ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORTING TO THE
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DOLE AND THE LGUS. THE MUNICIPAL PEESO SHALL LIKEWISE
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EXERCISE THE ABOVE FUNCTION IN RELATION TO THE BEESOS.
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MOREOVER, every PEESO AND BEESO shall undertake holistic
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strategies, programs, and activities to transform the PEESO AND
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BEESO into a modern public employment AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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service intermediary that provides multi-dimensional employment and
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entrepreneurship facilitation services."
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Sec. 5. Section 7 of RA 8759, as amended by RA 10691, is hereby further
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amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 7. Role of the DOEE and the LGUs. - The LGUs, in
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coordination with the DOLE, shall establish the PEESO AND BEESO.
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It shall be the responsibility of the DOLE to:
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(a) Provide technical supervision, coordination, and capacity
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building to the PEESO AND BEESO;
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(b) Establish and maintain AN UPDATED computerized human
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resource and job registries to facilitate the provision and
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packaging of employment assistance to PEESO AND BEESO
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clients and the setting-up of intra- an d inter [regional]-
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GEOGRAPHICAL job clearance systems as part of the overall
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employment network;
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(c) Provide technical assistance and allied support services to the
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PEESO AND BEESO including, but not limited to, the training of


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PEESO AND BEESO personnel in the various aspects of 
employment AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP facilitation functions;
(d) Set standards for the establishment and operation of the PEESO 
AND BEESO office and qualification standards for the PEESO 
AND BEESO personnel;
(e) 
Extend other packages of employment AND 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP services to the LGU, NGO or El 
concerned, including the conduct of job fairs, career development 
seminars, ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTERVENTIONS, and other 
activities; and
(f) Monitor, assess, and evaluate the performance of the PEESO AND 
BEESO, including the job placement offices in Els.
For their part, persons who are seeking employment, particularly 
the unemployed, shall register at the PEESO/BEESO for employment 
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP facilitation assistance. The establishments, 
on the other hand, shall submit their job vacancies as well as applicants 
hired to the PEESO AND BEESO to ensure the availability of accurate 
information on supply and demand situation for various 
OCCUPATIONS AS WELL as skills in the labor market.
The LGU shall establish a monitoring system wherein 
establishments operating in the locality shall report the following 
relevant labor market information to the concerned office of the LGU;
(a) Present number and nature of jobs[;], SELF-EMPLOYMENT, 
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES; and,
(b) Projection of jobs that the establishment will provide or offer in 
the next five (5) years;
PROVIDED THAT, [T]the information shall be submitted to the 
PEESO AND BEESO for job matching and to Els for career guidance of 
the students.
PROVIDED FURTHER THAT, [I]it shall be the responsibility of 
the concerned LGU to:
(i) Operate and maintain the PEESO AND BEESO;


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(ii) Ensure compliance with the operational standards set by the
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DOLE;
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(iii) Extend such assistance and services as may be necessary in the
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promotion of employment AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP witliin
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the area of jurisdiction; and,
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(iv) Submit to the DOLE periodic performance and accomplishment
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reports."
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Sec. 6. Section 8 of RA 8759, as amended by RA 10691, is hereby amended to
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read as follows:
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SEC. 8. Administration of the PEESO AND BEESO Program, - The
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DOLE shall be primarily responsible for the administration of the
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PEESO AND BEESO Program through its Bureau of Local Employment,
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as well as its regional offices throughout the country. The Secretary of
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Labor and Employment, in coordination with the Department of the
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Interior and Local Government and in consultation with the presidents
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of the various local government leagues, namely the League of
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Provinces, the League of Cities, the League of Municipalities, and the
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League of Barangays, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
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DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND SUCH OTHER GOVERNMENT
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AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES WHICH OFFER
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PROGRAMS ON EMPLOYMENT, LIVELIHOOD, AND
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP, shall accordingly promulgate, within ninety
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(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules and
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regulations for the effective implementation of the [Program] ACT."
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Sec. 7. Section 9 of RA 8759, as amended by RA 10691, is hereby further
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amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 9. Funding. - The funding for the operation and
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maintenance of the PEESO AND BEESO shall be provided by the LGU
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from its internal revenue allotment and other internally generated
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income of the LGU concerned. Likewise, the operation and maintenance


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of the NGO PEESO AND BEESO and job placement offices of Els shall
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be charged against their internally generated income.
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Funds for the provision of technical assistance, training, and
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supervision of the PESO shall be included in the budget of the DOLE in
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the annual General Appropriations Act.
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The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act
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shall be included by the Department of Budget and Management in the
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annual General Appropriations Act."
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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regidations. - The Secretary of Labor and
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Employment shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
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implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section or provision of this
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Act or any part thereof, or the application of such section, provision or portion is
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof shall not be affected by
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such declaration.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
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rules and regulations or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions
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of this Act, are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from the
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date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
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general circulation.
Approved,