TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL21 A10:24
SENATE
s. NO. 718
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
While the Philippines saw a substantial decline in overall poverty incidence 
(PSA), this progress has been uneven. Rural areas continue to lag behind due to 
limited access to markets, productive capital, knowledge, and technology, with 
majority of the poor concentrated in agriculture and fisheries. Notably, farmers and 
fisherfolk consistently recorded the highest poverty incidences among basic sectors in 
2021.
To bridge this urban-rural disparity, this bill establishes the Rural Employment 
Assistance Program (REAP), which will provide temporary employment to qualified 
individuals from poor rural households. This will allow them to earn not less than 75% 
of the prevailing regional minimum wage for their work. Ultimately, REAP aims to 
provide Filipinos in rural areas with opportunities for a just and sufficient means of 
livelihood, thereby addressing poverty in the rural areas. In view of the foregoing, 
the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCIS N^ANGILINAN
Set^tor


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JIJL 21 A10:24
SENATE
S. No. 718
Rm:iv
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rural Employment 
Assistance Program Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to promote 
a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of 
the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate 
social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved 
quality of life for all.
Towards this end, the State shall provide Filipinos with opportunities for just 
and sufficient means of livelihood. The State shall likewise initiate meaningful 
employment assistance programs to qualified individuals of poor households in rural 
areas duly identified by the appropriate national agencies.
Sec. 3. Rural Employment Assistance Program. - There is hereby created a 
Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), which shall provide temporary 
employment to every qualified individual member of a poor family in rural areas who 
volunteers to do unskilled labor for a minimum of forty-five (45) days but not more 
than ninety (90) days in a calendar year wherein the minimum and maximum period


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of engagement can cover a single activity or multiple activities spread out over the 
course of a calendar year.
Qualified individuals are not subject to the terms and conditions of regular 
employment and as such, shall not be deemed to have an employer-employee 
relationship with the DSWD, or any agency or institution who utilizes their services 
with respect to the Program.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act;
a) "Poof' refers to individuals and families whose income fall below the poverty 
threshold as defined by the government and/or cannot afford in a sustained 
manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, 
housing and other essential amenities of life, or those who have been 
identified as poor by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty 
Reduction (NHTS-PR);
b) "Quaiified individual' refers to willing and able Filipino citizens who are at 
least fifteen (15) years of age. Provided, That individuals between the ages 
of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) may only qualify by first obtaining consent 
from their parent/s and/or legal guardian. Provided further. That individuals 
who are between the ages of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) may only qualify 
provided they can be employed in non-hazardous work environments In 
accordance with the Labor Code;
c) "Rural ared' refers to any barangay with at least fifty percent (50%) land 
devoted to agriculture, timberland, forest and or/pasture land as determined 
by the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the concerned local government unit 
(LGU); and
d) "Unskilled iabof' refers to a segment of the workforce associated with a 
limited skill set or a minimal economic value for the work performed. It is 
generally characterized by having lower levels of educational attainment, 
such as high school diploma. General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or lack 
thereof, and which typically results in getting iower wages.
Sec. 5. Local Community Participation. - The DSWD shall take the lead in the 
overall implementation of the REAP. However, the corresponding LGUs and in 
particular, the local communities and people's organizations (POs) representing its
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most vulnerable sectors such as women, youth, the elderly and the like shall be given
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proper recognition and due consideration by the DSWD as the primary stakeholders
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of each project to be initiated.
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Towards this end, the LGUs and especially the local communities shall be
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capacitated by the DSWD to be able to fully participate in any and all phases of the
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project development cycle, which include, but are not limited to, situational analysis
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and needs assessment, project identification, project implementation and
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management, and project monitoring and evaluation.
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Sec. 6. Qualifications for Availment of Employment Assistance. - The Local
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Social Welfare and Development Officers (LSWDOs), in close coordination with the
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LGUs and other concerned government agencies, as well as concerned members of
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the identified rural communities themselves, may conduct a preliminary joint
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assessment of all poor individuals and families in rural areas who signify interest in
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undertaking work as unskilled labor to determine eligibility in availing of the
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employment assistance program.
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The assessment shall also take into consideration the inherent knowledge,
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skills, capacities, and capabilities of potential qualified participants so as to properly
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determine the type and nature of projects that are most suited to them and their
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respective communities.
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These preliminary joint assessments may be subject to validation and approval
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by the DSWD. The DSWD shall facilitate basic knowledge and skills orientation and
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capacity building trainings and seminars as deemed necessary towards project
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development for qualified participants.
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The concerned LGUs shall be responsible for providing for the loaning out of
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any tools and equipment necessary for project development to the qualified
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individuals.
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Sec. 7. Types of Works and Activities under the Program. - Employment
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activities for this purpose shall be designed to mobilize eligible individuals, families
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and communities to finish a project within a given time period. These projects may
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include, but are not limited to the following:
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(a) Development, rebuilding/rehabilitation of agri-based livelihood assets
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damaged, destroyed or lost due to natural disasters, such as desilting of
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irrigation canals, development of paddy dikes, and rehabilitation of water 4
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impounding dams;
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b) Development or rehabilitation of common service facilities, which are being
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shared and used by poor families as production or consolidation centers
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like post-harvest facilities, and public markets;
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(c) Development or rehabilitation of physical assets to open up access to areas
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necessary to transport rural products, such as construction of farms to
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market roads and bridges; and
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(d) Protection of natural and productive assets through mitigation and disaster
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risk reduction measures, such as mangrove planting and rehabilitation, tree
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planting and similar activities.
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Additionally, the DSWD shall provide an updated list of projects that may be
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undertaken as well as the projects not covered under this law. This list shall be readily
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made available to potentially qualified individuals who have expressed their desire to
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participate in the REAP.
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Sec. 8. Rate of Assistance. - Every person qualified under this Program shall be
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entitled to receive compensation for each day of work at the rate of not less than
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seventy five percent (75%) of the prevailing minimum wage set by the concerned
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Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). LGUs concerned may also
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provide for additional allowances to the beneficiaries in order to cover for other
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expenses such as transportation and food.
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Sec. 9. Micro-insurance Benefits. - Qualified individuals are granted the option
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to access micro-insurance as a form of social security in the event of accidental death
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or dismemberment, medical reimbursement, and bereavement assistance at a
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socialized cost.
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Toward this end, the DSWD shall provide liaison services necessary to enable
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qualified individuals access to these social services. LGUs concerned may also provide
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additional allowance to participants to cover insurance costs.
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Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
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shall include in the DSWD's programs the implementation of this Act, the initial funding
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of which shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DSWD.


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Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be included
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in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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In addition, the DSWD may accept donations, contributions or grants from
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foreign and local persons, institutions and governments, among others, for the
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implementation of the Program.
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Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after
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the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall, in consultation with the
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Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, issue the
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
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and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,