EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
)
*21 MI\Y-4 P4-00
SENATE
S. B. No. 2156
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND 
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) PROVINCIAL TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER TO BE LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LABANGAN, 
PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), created under 
Republic Act No. 7796, has actively engaged In the forefront of government's efforts to 
improve the lives of the poor and reduce poverty incidence in the country. In collaboration 
with other government agencies and private organizations, TESDA continues to reach out 
to peopie in poor communities by providing them with special training packages tailor fit 
to their environment and educating them with tlie skills most needed by the community.
Located at the western tip of the island of Mindanao, Zamboanga del Sur holds 
the largest population in Region IX. "Relatively, its economy is basically rooted in 
agriculture with farming and fishing as the main economic activities of the province. By 
industrial origin, the Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry Sector contributes about 50% of Its


Gross Regional Domestic Product followed by the Services Sector at 35%. Meanwhile, the 
Industry Sector contributes the remaining 15% of the regional economy."1
However, training centers on farming, fishing and other vocational and technical 
courses are only situated in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur's capital. Due to the 
insufficient number of TESDA training centers in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, 
there Is a need to establish a training center in the Municipality of Labangan which will 
make the programs and services of TESDA more accessible to the constituents of 
Zamboanga del Sur.
In addition, the creation of the said center will help students and local residents 
from low-income families, out of school youth, graduates, unemployed and 
underemployed adults, workers in the informal sector, low-income families, persons with 
disabilities, and ethnic indigenous peoples. This Act also aims to encourage full 
participation and mobilization of the industry and labor of the Province of Zamboanga del 
Sur and'is a step towards recovery from the economic hardships brought by the 
pandemic.
In pursuit of goals to promote and strengthen the quality of technical education 
and skills development programs in the country and to attain international 
competitiveness across the globe, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly 
sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
1 Profile of Region 9, Department of Trade and Industry Website, Review: https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region- 
9/profiIe/


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 2156
*21 HAY-4 P4 -00
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER "BONG" T. GO
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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND 
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) PROVINCIAL TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER TO BE LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LABANGAN, 
PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short title. This Act shall be known as the "Zamboanga del Sur 
TESDA Provincial Training and Assessment Center Act".
Section 2. Declaration of Policies. - There is hereby established Zamboanga del 
Sur Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Training 
and Assessment Center to be located in the Municipality of Labangan, Province of 
Zamboanga del Sur.
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Section 3. 6’£,/7era/A/a/7^/^fe The Zamboanga del SurTESDA ProvincialTraining and
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Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide relevant
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and quality technical-vocational education and training (TVET), including practical short-
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term specials courses and one (1) year to three (3) - year TESDA- registered technical-


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vocational skills programs and certificate courses, to out-of- school youth, high school 
students and graduates, unemployed and underemployed adults, other workers, other 
workers in the informal sector and residents from low-income families, as well as persons 
with disabilities in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, to help them become self-reliant 
and globally competitive labor assets. The Center shall also aim to meet the maximum 
competency requirement under Level V of the Philippines Qualifications Framework (PQF), 
as institutionalized by Republic Act No. 10968 (PQF Act), which is the Diploma Level in 
technical-vocational education.
The Center shall help train local residents in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur 
within the operational radius of the Center to be developed into globally competitive 
middle to high-level skilled labor force to meet the manpower placement demands of both 
local and international labor markets, as well an hasten the social and economic 
development of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur. The Center shall consider. In the 
design of relevant technical-vocational training programs to be offered therein, the 
preferred skills categories according to identified development targets, thereby propelling 
the area in becoming a skilled human resource and economic productivity hub.
The Center shall also serve as the TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for 
acquired competencies in technicai-vocationai skills in the entire Province of Zamboanga 
del Sur.
As deemed necessary and practicable, in coordination with the Department of 
Education (DepEd) and TESDA, the Center shall render relevant teachers' trainings 
assistance and curriculum design to the secondary schools offering technical-vocation 
livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of the DepEd in the communities and 
areas in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur.
Section 4. Curriculum Offerings/Training Programs. - The Center, in consultation 
with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Trade and


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Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), 
business-industry partners, and such other relevant agencies, both local and international, 
shall offer diverse short-term certificate courses and modular trainings In relevant 
technical-vocational skills and trade specialization to comply with the employment 
standards in preferred and emerging marker-driver labor opportunities, but shall likewise 
give premium requirements towards attaining a robust inclusive economy in the host area 
and the adjacent localities and communities within the operational radius of the Center.
The Center may establish research and technological hubs, mobile training 
programs, and satellite or extension training centers in priority areas throughout the 
Province od Zamboanga del Sur not only to serve the manpower needs of the areas, but 
also to strengthen the linkages among industry, the academe and the Center.
The Center shall, as far as necessary and practicable, offer the following TESDA- 
registered technical-vocational training programs with the competency's assessment 
leading to at least National Certification Levels Mil, as applicable, to increase the 
livelihood assets and competitive productivity In the entire Province of Zamboanga del 
Sur in the following:
a. Skills training in industry technology and hard trades such as metal and steel 
works, machine fabrication and operation, hears equipment operation, 
automotive mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and 
operation of power tools and equipment for both medium skills grade and 
industrial purposes;
b. Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in such 
areas, but not limited to, farming-fishing operations technology, backyard 
farming and home-based aquaculture and propagation innovations, 
mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment operations, agribusiness.


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agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant farmers and 
fisherfolks continuing trainings for increased productivity and 
entrepreneurship;
c. Social communication skills development, language proficiency courses in 
English and other languages for business outsourcing (call center) employment 
and overseas job placement;
d. Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and 
small-scale entrepreneurship. Including practical skills education In crafts and
, art, workmanship and designing (fabric, woodworks, jewelry and metal works),
, horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home 
technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking, including baking, beauty 
culture (Includes cosmetology, hair and nail styling), health and wellness 
trainings;
e. 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 and 
investment opportunities sourcing. Import-export accreditation. Including 
online home-based business operation and use of social media business 
marketing;
f. Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, masonry, 
plumbing, practical electricity and installation, automotive technician and 
servicing, electronics technician and servicing, welding technician personal 
computer (PC) servicing, and such other relevant practical skills courses;
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‘ g. Computer literacy and' information technology (lT)-related skills, digital 
technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography computer 
design and advertising;
h. Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placements, 
work ethics and values; and
i. Other preferred priority skills and trade training that may be utilized by the 
people of Zamboanga del Sur for practical livelihood purposes, gainful 
employment and entrepreneurial activities.
Section 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act 
notwithstanding, the Center established herein 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 Center has satisfactorily compiled 
with the minimum requirements for quality standards prescribed by TESDA governing the 
following competency assessment (a) standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the 
establishment and operation of a TESDA-accredited training center; (b) operational 
sustainability of the Center established herein, such as licensed faculty-trainers and 
personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials, and other 
standard requirements as a TESDA-accredited training center, (c) sustainable funding 
source and allocation of budget requirement of the Center hereto established; (d) 
assurance that the training quality technical-vocational skills technology and needs of the 
host area and adjacent communities within the service are of the Center; (e) program 
alignment and benchmarking In the context of the ASEAN framework and the PQF for 
TVET; and (0 compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and stands as may be 
necessary and applicable in establishing a TESDA-accredited training center.
Section 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational 
Administrator, who shall be appointed by the TESDA Director-General in accordance with


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Civil service rules and regulations and the qualification requirements for such office.
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall render full-time services and shall be 
responsible for the administration and operation of the Center. As far as necessary and 
practicable, and subject to existing procedures and the approval of the TESDA Director 
General, the Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter into mutual agreement 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.
Section 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary General of TESDA shall include In the 
Authority's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be Included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGUs concerned. In consultation with 
TESDA, shall likewise set aside from any available local revenue an amount deemed 
appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support the operation of the Center established 
herein.
Section 8. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days after 
the approval of this Act, the TESDA, In coordination with the DOLE, the DTI, the DA, the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DILG, the concerned LGUs, and such 
other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, shall prepare 
and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 9. Separabiiity Ciause. - If for any reason, any section of this Act shall 
be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provision hereof shall not be 
affected and shall thereby remain in full force and effect.
Section 10. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, executive order, decrees. Instructions, 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.


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Section 11. EffecUvity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after Its 
publication In the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,