NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1B59
ol tl)c fe-rrt.v.'/i
23 JAN 12 A10 33
RECEIVED BY
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
CREATING THE "TRABAHO SA ORAS NG PAGBANGON" PROGRAM, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State affirms 
labor as a primary soda! economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and 
promote their welfare". Further, Article XIII, Section 3 states, "The State shall afford 
full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote 
full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all". Moreover, the 
Constitution guarantees that they shall be entitled to security of tenure, humane 
conditions of work, and a living wage".
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the economy resulting 
in the closure or minimal operations of several business establishments. Millions of 
Filipinos, including those working overseas, now face the grim reality of job losses or 
underemployment, on prospects that the prolonged period of the pandemic will have 
an overwhelming impact on the survival of many companies.


This "new normal" brought about by COVID-19 is foreseen as a "survival of the 
fittest" situation where all types of business, whether big, medium, small, and micro 
will be affected. Economic opportunities will be limited and scarce. The Philippine 
government, therefore, needs to address this situation to cushion the negative impact 
of unemployment and job losses and stave off the further complication of the country's 
economic challenges.
Thus, this bill seeks to create the "Trabaho sa Oras ng Pagbangon" Program 
wherein the departments, agencies, and local government units will coordinate and 
create job opportunities and trainings, among others for Filipinos. These jobs may be 
offered for skilled and unskilled workers in government offices, sites, projects, or any 
government-related undertaking such as infrastructure projects, health programs, 
cleaning and management of the environment and government-owned infrastructure, 
reforestation, flood control, conservation projects, development of national parks, 
forests, and historic sites, among others. Therefore, not only will it create jobs for 
millions of Filipinos, it will also significantly help our country weather this difficult crisis 
brought about by the pandemic.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
,4^1 senate
of tijf fef n t'toi j>
23 JAN 12 AlO :33
RECEIVED
SENATE
S.B. No. 1659
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
CREATING THE "TRABAHO SA ORAS NG PAGBANGON" PROGRAM, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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 "Trabaho sa Oras ng 
Pagbangon Act'.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State affords full protection to labor and 
ensures living wage and humane conditions at work. The "Trabaho sa Oras ng 
Pagbangon" Program creates various jobs for the distressed and marginalized Filipinos. 
The program shall also provide benefits and trainings for thousands of Filipinos, 
especially the low-income and disadvantaged.
SEC. 3. Trabaho sa Oras ng Pagbangon (TROPA) Program. - The "Trabaho sa 
Oras ng Pagbangon (TROPA)" Program hereinafter referred to as the "Program"s'oaW 
be created by the government which shall provide for the creation of jobs. The 
government shall take the lead in improving the social and economic life of Filipinos 
through a whole-of-government approach and whole-of-society approach.
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SEC. 4. Trabaho sa Oras ng Pagbangon (TROPA) Task Force. - There is hereby 
created a "Trabaho sa Oras ng Pagbangon (TROPA)' Task Force, hereinafter referred 
to as the "Task Force," which shall be the body that will spearhead the implementation 
of the Program. The Task Force shall be composed of the following:
(a) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
(b) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
(c) Secretary of the Department of Flealth (DOH)
(d) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);
(e) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
(f) Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
(g) Secretary of the Department of Information And Communications Technology
(DICT);
(h) Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr);
(i) Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA);
(j) Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA);
(k) Secretary of the National Economic And Development Authority (NEDA);
(l) President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP); and 
(m) President of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).
The Chairperson of the Task Force shall be the Secretary of the DOLE who shall 
have the power to require the participation of such other government agencies or 
instrumentalities in the Task Force, as may be deemed necessary.
Provided, That the Task Force shall, thereafter, formulate a National Plan which 
shall incorporate how the Program shall be swiftly implemented and utilized.
SEC. 5. Heath Care Delivery System and Services. - The Department of Health 
(DOH), in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)


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and Local Government Units (LGUs), shall strengthen and modernize the health care 
delivery system and services of the country to fight and prevent the spread of the 
COVID-19 virus which shall also adopt a comprehensive, consistent, and systematic 
approach to current and existing health threats, issues, and concerns to complement 
the state-of-the-art technology, including the strengthening of vaccination uptake.
SEC. 6. Transport Services. - The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and 
the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in coordination with the LGUs 
and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), shall undertake to improve and 
reform the public transportation system and major highways and thoroughfares for a 
more efficient travel and to ease traffic congestion.
SEC. 7. Education and Training Services. - The Department of Education 
(DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education 
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall provide educational support and 
assistance to students especially in adapting to hybrid learning, online learning and 
other programs that build back better school systems.
SEC. 8. Job Provision and Protection. - The government shall create a program 
which shall provide for the creation of jobs and assistance to unemployed Filipinos. 
Jobs may be offered for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers in government 
offices, sites, projects, or any government-related undertaking such as infrastructure 
projects, health programs, creative projects, cleaning and management of the 
environment and government-owned infrastructure, reforestation, flood control, 
conservation projects, development of national parks, forests, and historic sites, among 
others.
The Task Force, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE) and private sector, shall provide job fairs to fast-track the meeting of 
jobseekers, employers, and overseas recruitment agencies in one venue at a specific


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date to reduce cost, time and effort, particularly on the part of the applicants. The job
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fairs shall be open to all unemployed, skilled and unskilled workers, fresh college
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graduates, graduates of training institutions, displaced workers and employees seeking
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advancement.
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The public and private sector shall also endeavor to provide, when applicable,
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work-from-home arrangements with the use of telecommunication and/or computer
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technologies, in accordance to Republic Act No. 11166 otherwise known as the
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"Telecommuting Act." Provided, That labor protection and benefits such as social
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security and/or health insurance shall also be provided to "gig" work arrangements
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which shall be based on a pro-rated basis, linking employer-benefit contributions to
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time worked, jobs completed, or income earned. Provided further thet, protection to
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non-payment of "gicf' work arrangements shall also be made, as may be determined
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by the DOLE.
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For purposes of this Act, "gig work arrangements!' shall be defined as any
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temporary position in a free market system for short-term commitments.
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SEC. 9. Agri-industry Development - The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall
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promote the development of agriculture, fisheries and food production to ensure the
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sustainability of food supply, food productivity, availability, accessibility, and
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affordability. The DA shall provide nationwide programs that will benefit farmers,
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fisherfolks, and consumers to increase national agri-fishery output through intensified
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use of quality seeds, appropriate inputs, and modern technologies to increase levels of
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productivity across all commodities, both in urban and rural areas.
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SEC. 10. Appropriation. - Upon its effectivity, an initial amount of Two Hundred
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Million Pesos (Php 200,000,000.00) shall be included in the annual General
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Appropriations Act (GAA) for the implementation of this Act. Thereafter, the
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appropriations necessary shall be determined by the Department of Budget and
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Management (DBM).


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SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, Thereafter, the concerned departments and agencies shall 
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly..
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper 
of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,