1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING AND ENHANCING THE SKILLS CERTIFICATE 
EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM (SCEP) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE 
COMMISSION (CSC) AND THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)  
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
For the past years, TESDA has undeniably proven itself as an 
institution that sends educated and trained individuals to workplaces 
receiving commendations from both domestic and overseas employers and 
earning the ISO 9001:2008 certification. The agency was also awarded 
with the Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management of the 
Philippine Quality Awards (PQA) and now belongs to the roster of 
government offices and private organizations in the Philippines recognized 
for their performance excellence. 
With this, we are assured that all tech-voc graduates have undergone 
quality and specialty-focused education, skills training, and examinations 
under professionals of their respective fields. 
October 17, 2022
8:30 am
5573


2 
 
Hence, tech-voc graduates also deserve automatic civil service 
eligibility just as passers of bar/board examinations administered by the 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and other qualified individuals 
receive it under Republic Act No. 1080. 
 
This bill seeks to grant the same privilege to certified tech-voc 
graduates who are holders of National Certificates (NC) issued by the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) by 
institutionalizing and enhancing the Skills Certificate Equivalency Program 
(SCEP). Currently, the SCEP is a partnership between the TESDA and the 
Civil Service Commission (CSC). 
 
The SCEP involves the assessment and certification of the 
competencies of workers through the Philippine TVET competency 
assessment and certification system. The assessment process, composed 
of a demonstration, questioning and a written test, seeks to determine 
whether a tech-voc graduate or worker can perform to the standards 
expected in the workplace. A national certificate is awarded to those who 
meet the competency standards. The entire process is only carried out in 
accredited TESDA centers with the presence of the agency’s accredited 
assessors.  
 
Under the SCEP, the CSC grants the appropriate civil service 
eligibility to an NC holder who may be a government skilled worker or any 
individual seeking entrance into the civil service. An individual who 
possesses a valid NC may file an application for the conversion of his or 
her NC to a civil service eligibility at any office of the CSC nationwide. 
 
An NC issued by TESDA is a proof of one’s expertise on a certain 
skill or set of skills. It is an assurance of the competencies of a skilled 
worker. Thus, this bill is consistent with the Constitutional policy that 
appointments in the civil service are made only according to merit and 
fitness. 
 
In fact, the formulation of qualification standards follows a stringent 
process that starts from endorsement of qualifications by the industry 
stakeholders to the TESDA Board to the approval of these qualifications for 
the development of training regulations. To ensure the appropriateness and 
relevance of these training regulations, and their accompanying 


3 
competency-assessment tools, TESDA conducts a periodic review of these 
training regulations.  
Hence, with a quality-assured and globally recognized tech-voc 
training, assessment and certification systems in the Philippines, there is 
no doubt that the institutionalization and enhancement of SCEP will further 
strengthen the principle of meritocracy in the government. Like a 
professional license issued by the PRC, an NC issued by TESDA forms 
part of the requirements being sought by recruitment agencies and private 
companies for Filipinos seeking employment in the country and abroad. 
The passage of this bill will ensure the security of tenure of qualified 
skilled workers in the government, provide equal opportunites to middle 
skill workers to enter the civil service and, certainly, improve the image of 
tech-voc in the country. 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
1 


4 
Republic of the Philippines 
1 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
2 
Quezon City 
3 
4 
5 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
6 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
7 
8 
9 
House Bill No. ______ 
10 
11 
12 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
13 
EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
14 
15 
16 
AN ACT  
17 
INSTITUTIONALIZING AND ENHANCING THE SKILLS CERTIFICATE 
18 
EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM (SCEP) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE 
19 
COMMISSION (CSC) AND THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
20 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)  
21 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
22 
23 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
24 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
25 
26 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Skills 
27 
Certificate Equivalency Program Act.” 
28 
29 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The Constitution provides that 
30 
appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and 
31 
fitness. Towards this end, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
32 
institutionalize and enhance the Skills Certificate Equivalency Program 
33 
(SCEP) of the government, and to give equal opportunities to certified 
34 
technical-vocational education and training (TVET) graduates to enter the 
35 
civil service, uplift the dignity of middle-skilled workers, and improve the 
36 
image of technical and vocational education and training in the country.  
37 
38 
5573


5 
 
SEC. 3. Skills Certificate Equivalency Program. – There shall be 
1 
established a Skills Certificate Equivalency Program (the “Program”), which 
2 
shall grant civil service eligibility to holders of Technical Education and 
3 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) National Certificates (NCs). 
4 
 
5 
The Program shall involve the issuance of NCs to individuals who 
6 
shall successfully demonstrate the required competence in specific 
7 
qualifications. For this purpose, an NC shall be provided equivalent civil 
8 
service eligibility by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). 
9 
 
10 
SEC. 4.  Coverage. – The benefit under this Act shall apply to those 
11 
currently working in the government or seeking entrance into the civil 
12 
service for positions requiring eligibility thru an appropriate TESDA-issued 
13 
NC. 
14 
 
15 
SEC. 5. Identification of Positions with Qualification Standards 
16 
Requiring Eligibility through TESDA-Issued National Certificates. – 
17 
The CSC and TESDA, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall 
18 
identify and regularly update the qualification standards requiring eligibility 
19 
through an appropriate TESDA-issued NC, taking into account the 
20 
changing requirements of the workplace and the needs of the different 
21 
government agencies and instrumentalities in ensuring the delivery of 
22 
efficient and effective service to the public; Provided, That the NC remains 
23 
in the roster of promulgated national qualifications of TESDA: Provided, 
24 
further, That the grant of civil service eligibility shall be based on an 
25 
unexpired NC. 
26 
 
27 
SEC. 6. Application for and Award of Eligibility. – Any holder of 
28 
TESDA-issued NC shall file the application for civil service eligibility at any 
29 
office of the CSC. For this purpose, the CSC shall ensure that there are 
30 
designated personnel at its field offices nationwide who shall be 
31 
responsible for the conversion of TESDA-issued NCs to appropriate civil 
32 
service eligibilities. 
33 
 
34 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The CSC and the 
35 
TESDA shall jointly promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for 
36 
the effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from the 
37 
effectivity of this Act. 
38 
 
39 


6 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this Act 
1 
that is declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of 
2 
nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining 
3 
portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety. 
4 
 
5 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, ordinances, decrees, 
6 
executive orders, rules and regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, 
7 
which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
8 
accordingly. 
9 
 
10 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
11 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
12 
newspapers of general circulation. 
13 
 
14 
Approved, 
15