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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2504

Introduced by REP. RAMIL L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING IN THE PROVINCE OF LAGUNA, A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, TO BE KNOWN AS:
THE LAGUNA TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This House Bill is previously filed by Rep. Ruth Mariano-Hernandez through House Bill No.
1718 and subsequently substituted by HBN 8212, as approved by the Committees on
Higher and Technical Education and Appropriations. The Bill was later on approved on
third reading during the 19 Congress.

Improving HBN 1718 into a wider scale, the proposed legislation aims to establish a
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment
Center in Laguna (Center), addressing the province's growing need for skilled workers.
With a working populace of 67 percent of its approximately four million total population,
Laguna stands to benefit significantly from this initiative. As a major industrial hub in the
Philippines, the province requires a workforce equipped with relevant skills and tech-
vocational education to meet the demands of various industries.

This also addresses the need for workforce development, equipping the reserve labor force
with essential skills for immediate employment while also enhancing the overall
employability of individuals seeking better job opportunities. Many of these individuals
possess untapped potentials. They may lack specific certifications, updated skills, or
practical experience required by current industries. This Center will provide targeted
training programs and assessments designed to bridge these gaps. In coordination with
TESDA, the Center will offer practical, industry-aligned courses that directly translate into
marketable skills boosting the employability, attractiveness, and competitiveness of
Laguna's workforce.

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With a gross domestic product (GDP) of over Php1 billion in 2023 and continuing its strong
position in 2024 as a leading provincial contributor to the country’s GDP, this strategic
investment in human capital development will further strengthen the province's economic
goals and has the potential to heighten productivity, reduce unemployment, and contribute
to overall economic growth not only in the CALABARZON region but to the whole nation as
well.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

Approved,

RAMIL L./HERNANDEZ
2» Distrity, Laguna

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2504

Introduced by REP. RAMIL L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING IN THE PROVINCE OF LAGUNA, A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, TO BE KNOWN AS
‘THE LAGUNA TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Establishment of a Training and Assessment Center in the Province of
Laguna. - There is hereby established a training and assessment center, under the
supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to be
known as the “Laguna TESDA Training and Assessment Center”. It shall be located in a
highly accessible area in the Province of Laguna, pursuant to the purposes of this Act and
the agreement between TESDA and the concerned local government units (LGUs).

Section 2. General Mandate. - The Laguna 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 low-income
families and out-of-school youths, including persons with disabilities and indigenous
peoples, to help them become productive, self-reliant, and globally competitive labor
assets.

The Center shall provide effective employment interventions through training
programs on relevant skills in trade competencies, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship
activities to help hasten the development of the province into human resource and
productivity hub. The Center shall also provide technical-vocational training for teachers
and curriculum design assistance to the secondary schools in the province offering the
technical-vocational livelihood track under the K to 12 Program, in coordination with the
Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA.

Section 3. 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

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(DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA),
Department of the 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 and inclusive
economy in the province.

The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology development
farms, satellite or extension training centers, promote mobile training programs, and
strengthen linkages among the industry partners, the academe, and the Center geared
towards the acquisition by residents of practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful
employment, and entrepreneurial capabilities in Province of Laguna.

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 mechanical assembly, 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 farming,
fishing tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology
and innovations, and relevant training seminars for farmers and fisherfolk to
encourage entrepreneurship and thus, increase their productivity;

©) 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;

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 social media business marketing;

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

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

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

8]

h) Seminars in 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 Province of Laguna and of adjacent localities to enhance their capacities for
practical livelihood, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial activities.

Section 4. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provi is of this Act
notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon the issuance by TESDA of
a formal recommendation and certificate of compliance attesting that the Center has
satisfactorily complied with the minimum standards of quality it has prescribed 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
the budgetary requirement; (d) full alignment of the training programs offered with the
minimum standards of competency-based quality technical vocational skills technology
and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served within the context of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations integration and the Philippine Qualifications
Framework for TVET; and (e) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and
standards as may be necessary and applicable in establishing a Center.

Section 5. Administration of the Center. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-
Vocational Administrator who shall render full-time service 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.

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The Technical-Vocational Administrator may 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 6. 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 LGUs concerned, in consultation with 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 7. 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,
Department of Budget and Management, DepEd, DILG, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and
such other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, prepare
and issue rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof shall
not be affected and shall remain in force and in effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, issuances, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are repealed or
amended accordingly.

Section 10. 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,

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