Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS:
First Regular Segsi
House Bill No. “$93

Introduced by Representative Gerardo J. Espina, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

ly filed in the 18 and 19" Congresses. It was approved by the
House in the third reading and transmitted out. However, the Senate failed to act on the
approval of the said measure. Hence, it is now being re-filed in the 20" Congress.

It seeks to establish the TESDA Training and Assessment Center in the
Municipality of Naval, Province of Biliran, to be known as the Naval, Biliran TESDA
Training and Assessment Center Act. The establishment of an accessible, high quality and
efficient technical education and skills development shall be beneficial not only to the newly
high school graduates but also to college graduates and any ordinary citizen.

‘The Lone District of Biliran is composed of eight (8) municipalities, namely: Almeria,
Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Maripipi, and Naval. The only existing
TESDA Training Center in the province is located in the Municipality of Cabuegayan which
is very far from the capital town of Naval that serves as the center of trade and commerce of
the Province. Furthermore, it is ironic that the provincial office of TESDA is located in
Barangay Atipolo, Naval, Biliran, while the training center is located in Cabucgayan. The
learners find it very difficult to travel to a far-flung area away from the main island. Not only
does it cost them more expenses, but also the time alone is already onerous for them.

This bill, which aims to equip the citizens with basic practical knowledge and
technical expertise, geared towards a society that would be self-reliant, productive, and more
importantly, employable. The necessity for the creation of a TESDA Training and
Assessment Center in the Municipality of Naval, province of Biliran shall serve the
three (3) municipalities, which are composed of Naval, Almeria, and Biliran, as well as other
neighboring municipalities and provinces, since the existing TESDA Accreditation Centers
located in the municipality of Cabucgayan cannot cater to the whole province of
Biliran.

In view of the foregoing, approvalof this bill is earnestly sought.

HON. GERARDO “GEI BOY” J. ESPINA, JR.
tative

Lone District, Biliran


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 893

Introduced by Representative Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF NAVAL, PROVINCE OF BILIRAN, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
NAVAL, BILIRAN TESDA TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the
“Naval, Biliran TESDA Training and Assessment Center Act.”

SEC. 2. Establishment. ~ There is hereby established a Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the
Municipality of Naval, Province of Biliran, under the supervision of the TESDA, to be known
as the Naval, Biliran TESDA Training and Assessment Center. It shall be established in a
highly accessible location in the Municipality of Naval, Province of Biliran, pursuant to the
purposes of this Act and to the mutual agreement between the TESDA and the concerned local
government units (LGUs).

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

The Center shall offer training programs on relevant skills trade competencies,
craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship activities needed to deliver the effective
employment interventions that will hasten the development of the host area and
adjacent localities in the Province of Biliran into human resource and productivity
hubs.

The Center shall serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired
competencies in TVET programs in the Municipality of Naval and adjacent localities

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in the Province of Biliran. It shall also provide teachers’ 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
Department of Education (DepEd) and the TESDA.

SEC. 4. Training Program. — 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 and 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 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 to strengthen linkages among the industry partners, the academe,
and the Center geared towards the acquisition of practical livelihood, employable
skills, gainful employment, and entrepreneurship in priority areas in the Municipality
of Naval and neighboring localities in the Province of Biliran.

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 training 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
fisherfolks’ trainings for increased productivity and entrepreneurship;

(c) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and
small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts
and crafts, 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;

(4)Basic business literacy training in financial management, marketing,
practical accountancy, bookkeeping, 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 use of social

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media business marketing;

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

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

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

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

(i) Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people
of the Municipality of Naval and of the adjacent localities of the Province
of Biliran to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful
employment, and entrepreneurial activities.

SEC. 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 requirements for quality standards prescribed by the TESDA governing the
following competency assessment; (a) standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) 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 he budgetary requirement;
(d) assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the minimum
standards or competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and the
needs of the host area and adjacent communities served in the context of 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.

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

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 into agreements with
locally-based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and
persons, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General, for such assistance

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as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The Director General of the TESDA shall include
in the Authority’s program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shal! be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

‘The LGUs concerned, 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.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days after
the approval of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI,
DOST, DA, the 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.

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

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, decrees, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,