EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
.r
cf iijr 
' rtdi ji
S E N A T E
■19 JUL29 A11:19
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG RE VILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This proposed measure seeks to institute a program to assist qualified indigent 
families to have a temporary employment that will hopefully assist them in their daily 
needs. This bill proposes that the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) shall 
provide transitory work to every qualified individual member of an indigent family in 
rural areas, it is our admission that this temporary work may not go a long way to 
provide for a family, but this may be a start for a more stable employment in the 
future. It will also provide momentary relief to pressing needs that need immediate 
attention for rural families.
It is our aim to address unemployment in our country, but in general, it is our 
aim to assist indigent rural families to become more productive economically. In view 
of the foregoing, consideration of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON/BONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
5 ^ .  c. ■ t i.'
of iOi' i>ri-!T'tr.iP
S. No.
S E N A T E
800
'19 JUL29 All -19
REC2i ; . c t
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Rural Employment
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Assistance Program Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is a declared policy of the State to promote a
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just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
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nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
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services, promote full employment, a rising standards of living, and an improved
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quality of life for all. Towards this end, the State shall provide Filipinos with
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opportunities for just and sufficient means of livelihood. The State shall likewise initiate
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meaningful employment assistance programs to qualified individuals of poor
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households in rural areas duly identified by the appropriate national agencies.
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Sec. 3. Rural Employment Assistance Program. -  There is hereby created a
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Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), which shall provide temporary
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employment to every qualified individual member of a poor family in rural areas who
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volunteers to do unskilled labor for a minimum of forty-five (45) days but not more
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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
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course of a calendar year.
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Qualified individuals are not subject to the terms and conditions of regular
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employment and as such, shall not be deemed to have an employer-employee
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relationship with the DSWD, or any agency or institution who utilizes their services
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with respect to the Program.
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Sec. 4. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act:
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(a) Poor refers to individuals and families whose income fall below the poverty
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threshold as defined by the government and/or cannot afford in a sustained
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manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education,
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housing and other essential amenities of life, or those who have been
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identified as poor by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty
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Reduction (NHTS-PR);
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(b) Quaiified Individuai refers to willing and able Filipino citizens who are at
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least fifteen (15) years of age. Provided. That individuals between the ages
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of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) may only qualify by first obtaining consent
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from their parent/s and/or legal guardian. Provided, further, That individuals
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who are between the ages of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) may only qualify
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provided they can be employed in non-hazardous work environments in
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accordance with the Labor Code;
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(c) Rural area refers to any barangay with at least fifty percent (50%) land
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devoted to agriculture, timberland, forest and/or pasture land as
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determined by the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the concerned local
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government unit (LGU); and
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(d) Unskilled labor refers to a segment of the workforce associated with a
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limited skill set or a minimal economic value for the work performed. It is
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generally characterized by having lower levels of educational attainment,
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such as a high school diploma. General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or lack
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thereof, and which typically results in getting lower wages.
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Sec. 5. Local Community Participation. -  The DSWD shall take the lead in the
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overall implementation of the REAP. However, the corresponding LGUs and in
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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. Towards this end, the LGUs and especially the local
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communities shall be capacitated by the DSWD to be able to fully participate in any
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and all phases of the project development cycle, which include, but are not limited to,
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situational 
analysis 
and 
needs 
assessment, 
project 
identification, 
project
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implementation and management, and project monitoring and evaluation.
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Sec. 6. Qualifications for Avaiiment o f 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. The assessment shall also take into consideration
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the inherent knowledge, skills, capacities, and capabilities of potential qualified
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participants so as to properly determine the type and nature of projects that are most
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suited to them and their respective communities. These preliminary joint assessments
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may be subject to validation and approval by the DSWD.
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The DSWD shall facilitate basic knowledge and skills orientation and capacity-
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building trainings and seminars as deemed necessary towards project development
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for qualified participants. The concerned LGUs shall be responsible for providing for
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the loaning out of any tool and equipment necessary for project development to the
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qualified individuals.
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Sec. 7. Types o f 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
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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 like
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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 o f Assistance. -  Every person qualified under this Program shall
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be 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. Towards this end, the DSWD shall provide liaison services necessary
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to enable qualified individuals access to these social services. LGUs concerned may
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also provide 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
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funding of which shall be charge against the current year's appropriations of the
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DSWD. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be
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included 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 from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall, in consultation with the


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Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, promulgate and issue 
the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 24. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 25. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 26. EffectMty Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,