EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 1639
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN 
MINDANAO (USM), LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
KABACAN, PROVINCE OF COTABATO, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
USM-KABACAN, COTABATO TESDA TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT 
CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution guarantees that the 
State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels 
and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Education is 
a fundamental right of every Filipino. It plays a significant role in the growth and 
upliftment of lives.
On March 13,1978, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed the Presidential Decree 
No. 1312 which converted the Mindanao Institute of Technology (MIT) into University 
of Southern Mindanao. As University, the USM functions were mandated to have a 
trilogy of functions: instruction, research, and extension. The three functions later 
expanded to four: instruction, research, extension, and resource generation.
The intent of this bill is the establishment of Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the USM, situated 
in the Municipality of Kabacan, Province of Cotabato, to be known as the USM-Kabacan, 
Cotabato TESDA Training and Assessment Center. Furthermore, this initiative will help 
provide students with the right technical skills to become an innovative citizen of the 
country.
The speedy passage of this bill is therefore earnestly requested.
e /l.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN 
MINDANAO (USM), LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
KABACAN, PROVINCE OF COTABATO, TO BE KNOWN AS THE 
USM-KABACAN, COTABATO TESDA TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT 
CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "University of Southern
2 
Mindanao (USM^Kabacan, Cotabato TESDA Training and Assessment Center Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Establishment. - There is hereby established a Technical Education and
4 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the
5 
University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Municipality of Kabacan, Province of
6 
Cotabato, under the supervision of the TESDA, to be known as the USM-Kabacan,
7 
Cotabato TESDA Training and Assessment Center.
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Sec. 3. General Mandate. — The USM-Kabacan, Cotabato TESDA Training and
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Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide
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technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs to students, local
11 
residents from low-income families, and out-of-school youths, including persons with
12 
disabilities and indigenous peoples, in the Municipality of Kabacan and adjacent
13 
localities in the Province of Cotabato, to help them become productive, self-reliant and
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globally competitive labor assets.
15 
The University-based Center shall offer training programs on relevant skills
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trade competencies, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship activities needed to deiiver
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the effective employment interventions that will hasten the development of the host
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area and adjacent localities in the Province of Cotabato into human resource and
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productivity hubs.
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The Center shall serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired
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competencies in TVET programs in the host locality of Kabacan, its sixteen (16)
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adjacent municipalities, and the capital city of Kidapawan, Province of Cotabato. It
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shall also provide teachers' training and curriculum design assistance to the secondary
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schools offering the technical-vocational livelihood track under the K to 12 Program in
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coordination with the Department of Education and the TESDA.
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Sec. 4. Training Programs. - The Center shall offer short-term certificate
5 
courses and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills and trades
6 
specialization. To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
7 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology
8 
(DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local
9 
Government (DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-
10 
industry partners, and other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and
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International, shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop
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skilled manpower to achieve a robust inclusive economy in the host area and its
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adjacent localities.
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The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology
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development farms, satellite or extension training centers, and promote mobile
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training programs to strengthen linkages among the industry partners, the academe,
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and the Center geared towards the acquisition of practical livelihood, employable skills,
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gainful employment, and entrepreneurship in priority areas in the Municipality of
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Kabacan and neighboring localities in the Province of Cotabato.
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The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies
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assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III:
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(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and
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steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, automotive
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mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools
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and equipment for both medium skills grade and industrial purposes;
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(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in such
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areas as farming technology, fishing operations technology, backyard farming and
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home-based aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farm, fishing tools
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and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and Innovations,
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and relevant farmers and fisherfolk's trainings for increased productivity and
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entrepreneurship;
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(c) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and
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small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts and crafts,
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workmanship and design, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture,
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livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home technology, culinary
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arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology, and health and wellness training;
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(d) Basic business literacy training in financial management, marketing,
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practical accountancy, bookkeeping, office procedures, business processes and
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application procedures, including registration, licensing, documentation, business
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patent and intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment
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opportunities sourcing, import-export accreditation, online home- based business
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operation, and use of social media business marketing;
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(e) Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry,
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masonry, plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive


1 
servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer (PC) servicing, and such other
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relevant practical skills courses;
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(f) Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital
4 
technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography, computer design,
5 
and advertising;
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(g) Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English and
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other languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job
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placement;
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(h) Seminars on personality development, career counseling, job placement,
10 
and work ethic and values; and
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i) Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people
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of the Municipality of Kabacan and adjacent localities of the Province of Cotabato to
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enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and
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entrepreneurial activities.
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Sec. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act
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notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon determination and
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certification by the TESDA, through the issuance of a formal recommendation and
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certificate of compliance, that the Center has satisfactorily complied with the minimum
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requirements for quality standards prescribed by the TESDA governing the following
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competency assessment:
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(a) Standard procedures and guidelines (SPGS) for the establishment and
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operation of a Center;
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(b) Operational sustainability of the Center, in terms of licensed faculty-trainers
24 
and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials,
25 
and other standard requirements of a Center,
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(c) Sustainable funding source and allocation of the budgetary requirement;
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(d) Assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the
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minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills
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technology and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served in the
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context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration and the
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Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) for TVET; and
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(e) Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may
33 
be necessary and applicable in establishing a Center.
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The TESDA and the USM shall execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
35 
authorizing the establishment and operation of the Center inside the USM Campus:
36 
Provided, That the USM Board of Regents will pass a resolution approving the Center:
37 
Provided, further, That both the TESDA and the USM are in full accord with their
38 
respective obligations pursuant to the purposes of the Center under this Act.
39 
Sec. 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational
40 
Administrator, under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full-time service
41 
and be responsible for its administration and operation.


1 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA
2 
Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service
3 
Commission and the qualification requirements for such office.
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The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter into agreements with locally-
5 
based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons,
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subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General, for such assistance as may be
7 
necessary to effectively implement this Act.
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Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The TESDA Director General shall include in the
9 
Authority's program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shall be included
10 
in the annual General appropriations Act.
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The USM and the local government units (LGUS) concerned, in consuitation
12 
with the TESDA, shall set aside from any available revenue an amount deemed
13 
appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support the operation of the Center herein
14 
established.
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Sec. 8. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days after
16 
the approval of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST,
17 
DA, Department of Budget and Management, DILG, NEDA, concerned LGUs', USM,
18 
and such other relevant agencies and industry-business partners, prepare and issue
19 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 2 implementation of this Act.
20 
Sec. 9. Separabiiity Ciause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
21 
Act shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof
22 
shall not be affected and shall remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
24 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are
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hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
27 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,