Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

245

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution mandates that the government makes education a
priority with the promotion and protection of the right of all citizens to
accessible quality education as an overarching and continuing commitment
to the people (Section 17, Article II; Sections 1-2, Article XIV)

Further, the Constitution provides that the State is duty-bound to
establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system
of education relevant to the needs of the people and society that includes non-
formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems as well as provide adult
citizens, the disabled and out of school youth with training in civics,
vocational efficiency and other skills (Sections 1-2, Article XIV).

In this connection, the establishment of a Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center to be
located in the Municipality of Cabagan, Isabela is strategically important in
ensuring the provision of technical-vocational education and training (TVET)
programs to students and local residents of Isabela especially those from low-
income families, out-of-school youths, farm-based youths and persons with
disabilities not only in Cabagan but also in contiguous municipalities to
enable them to learn appropriate income generating skills so as to become
self-reliant and economically productive members of their respective
communities.

The Center proposed in this bill is envisioned to offer training programs
on relevant skills trade competencies, craftmanship and entrepreneurship
activities including farm machinery and equipment use and maintenance that
are needed to deliver effective employment and self-propelled income
generating enterprise interventions, as well as agri-development activities that
will eventually hasten the transformation not only of the people as productive
citizens, but the area and its contiguous localities into human resource and
productivity hubs.


The Center shall also serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center
for acquired competencies in TVET in the municipality, its environs and the
province, and shall provide teacher’s training and curriculum design
assistance to the secondary schools offering the technical-vocational-
livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 program in coordination with the
TESDA and the Department of Education (DepEd).

The land upon which the Center is to be located is already in place at
the Isabela State University.

As a concrete manifestation of government’s unmitigated commitment

to make education a dynamic right and democratic blessing for all citizens
especially the less privileged, the immediate approval of this bill is strongly

urged.
ee “TONYPET” T. ALBANO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no. 245

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING CENTER TO BE
KNOWN AS THE
CABAGAN TESDA TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Cabagan TESDA
Training and Assessment Center Act.

Section 2. Establishment. — There is hereby established a training
and assessment center, under the supervision of the TESDA, to be known
as Cabagan, Isabela TESDA Training and Assessment Center. It shall be
located in highly accessible area in the Municiplaity of Cabagan, Province of
Isabela, pursuant of this Act and to the agreement between the TESDA and
the concerned local government unis (LGU’s)

Section 3. General Mandate. - The Cabagan, Isabla TESDA Training
and Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily
provide technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs to
students and local residents from the low-income families and out-of school
youths, including persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples, in the
Municipality of Cabagan and the neighboring localities in the Province of
Isabela, to help them become productive, self reliant and globally
competitive labor assets.


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‘The Center shall provide effective employee interventions through
training programs on relevant skills in trade competencies, craftsmanship,
and entrepreneurship activities to help hasten the development of the host
area and the adjacent localities in the Province of Isabela into human
resource and productivity hubs.

The Center shall also serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center
for acquired competencies in TVET programs in the Municipality of Cabagan
and adjacent localities in the Province of Isabela. It shall also provide
technical-vocational training for teachers and curriculum design assistance
to the secondary schools offering the technical vocational livelihood (TVL}
track under the K to12 Program, in coordination with the Department of
Education (DepED) and the TESDA.

Section 4. Training Programs. - The Center shall offer short-term
certificate courses and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational
skills and trades specialization. To this end, the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) , Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department
of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA),
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and other
relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and international, shall
provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop skilled
manpower to achieve a robust and inclusive economy in the host area and
its adjacent localities.

‘The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology
development farms, satellite or extension training centers, and promote
mobile training programs and strengthen linkages among the industry
partners, the academe, and the Center geared towards the acquisition of
practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful employment, and
entrepreneurial capabilities in priority areas in the in the Municipality of
Cabagan and neighboring localities in the Province of Isabela.

‘The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies
assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III:

(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as
metal and steelwork, 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 purposes;

(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and __ skills
development in such areas as farming technology, fishing
operations technology, backyard farming and home-based
aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farm,
fishing tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua
trade technology and innovations, and relevant farmers’ and



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innovations, and relevant farmers and fisher folk’s trainings for
increased productivity and entrepreneurship;

Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills
employment and small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical
skills education in arts and craft, workmanship and design, high-
speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture, livestock
raising and breeding, food processing technology, home
technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology,
and health and wellness training;

(c}

(d) 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,
online home-based business operation and the use of social media
business marketing;

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

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

(g) Social communication skills development and language proficiency
courses in English and other languages for business process
outsourcing employment and overseas job placement;

h) Seminars on personality development, career counselling and job
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placement, work ethic and values; and

(i) Other preferred priority skills and trades training that may be
needed by the people of the Municipality of Cabagan and of the
other localities of the Province of Isabela to enhance their
capabilities for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and
entrepreneurial activities.

Section 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. -The provisions
of this Act, notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon
the determination and certification by the TESDA through the issuance of a
formal recommendation and certificate of compliance, that the Center has
satisfactorily complied with the minimum standards of quality prescribed
by the TESDA governing the following: (a) standard procedures and


guidelines for the establishment and operation of a Center; (b) operational
sustainability of the Center in terms of licensed faculty trainers and
personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional
materials, and other standard requirements of a Center; (c) sustainable
funding source and allocation of budget requirement; (d) full alignment of
the training programs offered with the minimum standard of competency-
based quality technical-vocational skills technology and the needs of the
host area and adjacent communities served in the context if the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration and the Philippine
Qualifications Framework (PQF) for TVET; and (e) compliance with such
other TESDA conditionalities and standards as may be necessary and
applicable in establishing a Center.

Section 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a
Technical-Vocational Administrator who shall render full-time and be
responsible for its administration and operation, under the supervision of
the TESDA.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the
TESDA Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Civil Service Commission and the qualification requirements for such office

The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter shall enter into
agreements with locally based private and public counterpart agencies,
instrumentalities or persons, and seek such assistance as may be necessary
to effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA
Director General.

Section 7. Appropriations. - The Director General of the TESDA
shall include in the Authority's program the operation of the Center, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

‘The LGU’s concemed, in consultation with the TESDA, shall set aside
from any available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual
counterpart fund to support the operation of the Center herein established.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety
(90) days after the approval of this Act shall, in coordination with the DOLE,
DTI. DOST. DA Department of Budget and Management, DILG, NEDA, the
concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and industry-business
partners of the host locality, prepare and issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Section 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of
this Act is deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions thereof
shall not be affected and shall remain in force and effect.


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Section 10. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, decrees,
instructions, rules and regulations contrary to or in consistent with any
provisions of this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. —'This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,