Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  
Introduced by Representative Divina Grace C. Yu 
1st District, Zamboanga del Sur 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish   Zamboanga del Sur Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Training and Assessment Center in the 
Municipality of Labangan, province of Zamboanga del Sur. 
Republic Act No. 7796, otherwise known as The Technical Education and Skills 
Development Act of 1994 provides that “it is the declared policy of the state to provide 
relevant, accessible, high quality and efficient technical education and skills development 
in support of the development of high-quality Filipino middle- level manpower responsive 
to and in accordance with Philippine development goals and priorities”. 
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. 
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 hardship brought by the pandemic. 
With the desire to materialize the intention of this bill the Local Government Unit of 
the Municipality of Labangan, Province of Zamboanga del Sur has already donated a land 
with an area of 3000 square meters intended for the establishment of the site. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
        DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
July 1, 2022
11:09 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by Representative Divina Grace C. Yu 
1st District, Zamboanga del Sur  
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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 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. Establishment. 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. 
SECTION   3.  General Mandate. The Zamboanga del Sur TESDA Provincial Training 
and Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide 
relevant and quality technical- vocational education and training (TVET), including 
practical short- term specialty courses and one (1) year to three (3)-year TESDA- 
registered Technical- vocational skills program and certificate courses, to out- of- 
school youths, 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 Philippine 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 of the Province of Zamboanga del 
Sur within the operational radius of the center to be developed into a globally 
competitive middle to high- level skilled labor force to meet the manpower placement 
demands of both local and international labor markets, as well as 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 TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for 
acquired competencies in technical- vocational skills in the entire Province of 
Zamboanga del Sur. 
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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 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 Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and 
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 market- driver labor opportunities, but shall likewise give premium 
requirements towards training 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 of Zamboanga del Sur not only to serve the manpower needs of these 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 I – III, 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, 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, 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, 
agri- aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant farmers and 
fisherfolks 
continuing 
training 
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, wood works, 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 in 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; 
 
g. Computer literacy and information technology (IT)- 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 complied 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, its structural materials, and other standard requirement as 
TESDA-accredited training center, (c) sustainable funding source and allocation of 
budget requirement of the Center hereto established; (d) assurance that the training 
programs offered  are fully aligned with the minimal standards of competency- based 
quality technical- quotation or skills technology and needs of the host area and 
adjacent communities within the service area of the Center: (e) program alignment 
and benchmarking in the context of the ASEAN framework end the PQF for TVET; 
and (f) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and stands as may be 
necessary and applicable in establishing a Tesla- 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 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 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. -  Implementing Rules and Regulations. - 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 effectivity 
of the implementation of this Act. 
SECTION  9 .Separability Clause.- If for any reason, any section of this Act shall be 
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not 
be affected and shall thereby remain in force and effect 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. 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.  
SECTION   11.   This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,