Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.

First Regular Session
~ 3893

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable EULOGIO “LEO” R. RODRIGUEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill modernizes and converts the Cabugao School of Handicraft
and Cottage Industries (CSHCI) to be the Bicol Technical and
Vocational Institute (BTV) that shall be supervised by the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The CSHCI located at Barangay Cabugao, Municipality of Bato,
Catanduanes was founded in 1970 for purposes of providing technical-
vocational education to the people of Cabugao and the nearby barangays.
Under this bill, the coverage shall be extended to include the entirety of the
Bicol Region. Since 1970, the CSHCI has evolved from a secondary vocational
high school to a post-secondary School. In 1997, it was absorbed by TESDA
and became the only TESDA-administered school in the Province of
Catanduanes offering skills training programs to all municipalities of the
province.

BTVI shall inherit the vision of CSHCI of becoming a strong and reliable
institution providing technical-vocational education to then the people of
Catanduanes, and now the entirety of the Bicol Region. It aims to address the
skills requirements of women including the LGBTQ+ community, out-of-school
youth, unemployed adults, wage earners, returning overseas Filipino workers,
contrite people availing of the voluntary drug-dependent surrender
mechanisms, qualified inmates, and qualified detainees, and the general
public in order to promote their welfare and economic well-being.


The rapidly changing demands of the industry and the labor market
at both the domestic and global market, makes it imperative for the
conversion of CSHCI to BTVI. This shall also entail major curricular program
shift towards the development of world-class Filipino workforce equipped with
practice and technical skills of global competence responsive to labor-driven
skills demand at both the domestic and global market. The change in its
curricular program will allow the newly converted BTVI to offer the best array
TESDA-registered technical-vocational curricular skills training programs and
certificate courses relevant to the needs of the people of the Bicol Region. This
measure aims to enable the proposed BTVI to meet, as a long-term goal, the
maximum competency requirements under Level V of the Philippine
Qualifications Framework, which is the diploma level in technical-vocational
education.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.


APRESS.
4S SS

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BiLL No. 3893

Introduced by Honorable EULOGIO “LEO” R. RODRIGUEZ

AN ACT MODERNIZING AND CONVERTING THE CABUGAO SCHOOL OF
HANDICRAFT AND COTTAGE INDUSTRIES TO BE KNOWN AS THE
BICOL TECHINICAL AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Bicol
Technical and Vocational Institute Act’

SECTION 2. Conversion. — The Cabugao School of Handicraft and Cottage
Industries (CSHCI) is hereby modernized and converted into the BICOL
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE, hereinafter referred to as the BTVI,
under the direct administration and supervision of the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The existing campus of the CSHCI in Cabugao, Bato, Catanduanes shall
serve as the main campus of the Institute. The following TESDA Training Centers
in Catanduanes, namely the PAVIBA Training Center in Viga, Catanduanes,
PANCAR Training Center in Pandan, Catanduanes, and the BOSSTE Training
Center in San Andres, Catanduanes, are converted into extension campuses of
the BIVI.

SECTION 3. General Mandate. — The modernization and conversion of the
CSHCI to BTVI becomes imperative in view of the recent major developments
challenging the Philippine higher and technical skills education priorities and
mandates, namely:

(a) the adoption of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF);


(b) the need for economic integration with the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN); and

(c) the rapidly changing demands of the industry and the labor market at
both the domestic and global market.

BTVI continues to provide a technical-vocational education institute to effect
a major curricular program shift towards the development of world-class Filipino
workforce equipped with practical analytical and technical skills of global
competence in programs responsive to labor-driven skills demand at both the
domestic and global market while being aligned with the ASEAN integration
framework and other relevant international agreements for technical-vocational
education. The following shall be the main activities of BTVI, to wit:

1. Offer practical specialty courses in tourism, entrepreneurship,
engineering, electrical and electronics, garments, agriculture, building
and construction, and other related trade industry, as well as higher
level competency qualifications in technical industrial education, and
trade technology. It shall upgrade its curricular standards as a tertiary
TESDA supervised institution that caters to wide-ranging specialized
technical skills courses and competency-compliant practical knowledge
application.

2. Offer a wide-array of one-year to three-year TESDA-registered
technical-vocational curriculum and skills training programs and
certificate-courses, and shall aim to meet, as a long-term goal, the
maximum competency requirement under Level V of the PQF, which
is the diploma level in technical-vocational education. It shall
provide tertiary undergraduate technical-vocational education and
shall provide the various skills trainings and trade specialization geared
towards the acquisition of employable skills, practical livelihood, and
entrepreneurship relevant to the needs of the province.

3. Play a pivotal role in helping the students and out-of-school youth and
residents from low-income families, including persons with disabilities,
within the Bicol Region, to become productive, self-reliant and globally
competitive middle to high-level skilled labor force that will hasten the
social and economic development of the Bicol Region, in particular, as
well as meet the manpower placement needs of both local and
international labor market, in general.

4. Design relevant technical-vocational training programs and courses to be
offered and consider a competency-based assessment of the
socioeconomic profile, employment conditions and opportunities,
business climate, market and industry potentials, resources available
and presence of support structures, including the literacy level and skills
readiness, and the overall development needs of that host arena and
adjacent communities within the operational radius of the Institute


established hereto.

5. Consider the relevant skills and trace competencies, craftmanship
training programs and entrepreneurship activities needed to deliver the
effective employment and development interventions required to make
the Bicol Region as one of the prolific human resource capital and
economic productivity hubs of the Philippines.

6. Serve as a TESDA-accredited assessment center for acquired
competencies in technical-vocational skills in the Bicol Region.

7. Conduct admission examinations with priority availment of the rural
poor on technical-vocational scholarships and grants-in-aid.

8. Render relevant teacher's training assistance and curriculum design to
the secondary schools offering technical-vocational livelihood track
under the K to 12 Program of the DepEd in the communities within the
Bicol Region.

SECTION 4. Curricular Offerings and Training Programs. — The BTVI shall
offer one-year to three-year technical-vocational courses and undergraduate
certificate, including short-term courses and modular trainings in diverse relevant
technical-vocational and industrial technology education to comply with
employment standards in preferred market-driven labor opportunities, but shall
give premium efforts to skills specialization for local employment requirements
geared towards achieving the development needs for a robust inclusive economy
of the Bicol Region within the operational radius of the BTVI, in consultation with
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and
such other relevant agencies, both local and international.

The BTVI may establish, as necessary and practicable, research and
technology hubs, mobile training programs, and satellite or extension training
centers in priority areas throughout the Bicol Region to strengthen linkages among
the industry, the academe, and the technology programs thereat.

The BTVI may offer the following TESDA-registered technical-vocational
courses and short-term training programs with skills regulations and competencies
assessment leading to National Certification Levels I to V, as applicable, to address
the development and manpower needs of all localities in the Bicol Region within
the operational radius of the BTVI, while offering options for higher level
competency qualifications in technical industrial education, trade technology, and
innovation, to increase the livelihood assets and competitive productivity, to wit:

(a) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in
such areas as farming-fishing operations technology, backyard farming
and homes-bashed aquaculture and propagation innovations,


mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment operation,
agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant
farmers and fisher folk continuing trainings for increased productivity
and entrepreneurship;

(b) Skills training in industrial technology and nard trades such as metal and
steel works, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment
operation, automotive mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning,
electronics, and operation of power tools and equipment for both
medium skills grade and industrial preferred skills;

(c) Tourism and hospitality-related courses relating to hotel, restaurant and
tourism development and management, including personality
development and social communication skills training, language
proficiency courses in English and other language competence for
business outsourcing or call center employment and overseas job
placement;

(d) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment,
small- scale income generating opportunities and entrepreneurship
training, including practical skills education in crafts and arts,
workmanship and designing such as fabric, woodwork, jewelry and
metalwork: high speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring: horticulture,
livestock raising and breeding: food processing technology, home
technology, culinary arts;

(e) commercial cooking, including baking; beauty culture including
cosmetology, hair and nail styling: health and wellness trainings,
basic business literacy training in — financial management and
marketing, practical accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures,
business processes and application procedures including registration,
licensing, documentation, business patent and intellectual property
regulation, business financing ono investment opportunities sourcing,
import-export accreditation, including online home-based business
operation and use of social media for business marketing;

(f) Technical-vocational occupation and trade skills such as carpentry,
masonry, plumbing, practical electricity and installation, automotive
technician and servicing, electronics technician and servicing,
welding technician, personal computer servicing, and such other
relevant practical technical skills courses;

(g) Computer literacy on information technology-related skills, digital
technology, web design, animation, photoshop and online photography,
computer design and advertising;

(h) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job


placement, work ethics and values; and

(i) Other preferred priority skills and trades training courses relevant to
the needs of the Bicolano People.

SECTION 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirement. — The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the BTVI shall become operationally effective only upon the
determination and declaration of the TESDA, through the issuance of a formal
recommendation and certificate of compliance that the BTVI has satisfactorily
complied with the minimum requirements and quality standards prescribed by
TESDA governing the following:

(a) standard procedures and guidelines for the establishment, or conversion
and operation of TESDA polytechnic institute of technical education and TESDA
technology institution;

(b) operational sustainability of the polytechnic institute including licensed
faculty-trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities,
instructional materials, and other standard requirements;

(c) sustainable funding source and allocation of budget requirement of the
BIVI;

(d) assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the
minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills
technology and needs of the host municipality and adjacent areas in the Bicol
Region in the context of the ASEAN and PQF framework for technical- vocational
education; and

(e) compliance with such other conditions as may be necessary and
applicable.

The BTVI shall not offer undergraduate higher-education courses without
prior approval of the Commission on Hip her Education (CHED) and upon its
compliance with the minimum requirements stipulated in CHED Memorandum
Order No. 46, Series of 2012, to operate as a college or higher education institution.
The BTVI shall remain under the supervision and administration of the TESDA and
shall continue to offer one-year to three-year technical-vocational course in the
field of tourism, entrepreneurship, engineering, electrical and electronics,
garments, agriculture, building and construction, and other related trade industry,
and such other relevant technical-vocational curricular programs and other related
courses to meet the needs of the province as a whole.

SECTION 6. Administration. — The Institute shall be headed by a School
Superintendent under the supervision of the TESDA and appointed by the TESDA
Director-General in accordance with civil service rules and regulations and the
qualification requirements and standards for such office.


The School Superintendent shall render full-time service and shall be
responsible for the administration and operation of the BTVI. The duties and
responsibilities of the School Superintendent shall follow the position qualification
standard of TESDA for such office.

Subject to approval by the TESDA Director-General, the School
Superintendent herein appointed may enter into mutual agreements with
local-based counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons, both
private and government, for such assistance as may be necessary to
effectively implement this Act.

The academic and administrative staff of the Institute shall be
organized following the staffing pattern of TESDA for such type of schools
pursuant to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

SECTION 7. Asset, Liabilities and Personnel. — All assets fixed and
movable, personnel, records, and documents of the CSHCI as well as its
liabilities or obligations are transferred to the BTVI. The positions, rights, and
security of tenure of faculty and personnel therein employed pursuant to
existing laws prior to its conversion into the Institute shall not be impaired.

All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the CSCHI,
including its three extension campuses in Viga, Pandan, and San Andres, are
declared property of the BTVI and shall be titled under the name of BTVI. In
case the BTVI ceases to exist or such aforementioned parcels of lands be no
longer needed by the BTVI, the same shall revert to the concerned local
government unit in the municipalities or cities within Bicol Region.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. The amount needed to initially implement
the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s
appropriations of the CSHCI. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the
continued operation of the institute shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

The Bicol Region, in consultation with the TESDA, shall likewise set
aside from any available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as
needed for support of the operation of the BTVI established herein.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days after the approval of this Act, the TESDA, in coordination with the DOLE,
DTI, DA, DILG, DBM, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies
and industry-business partners of any applicable host municipality or local
government unit shall prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act


is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or parts hereof
shall not be affected and shall remain in force and in effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, decrees,
instructions, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any
Provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,