Barangay Skilled Workers Registry Act

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Kegular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No. 7719 BY REPRESENTATIVES ROMULO, CRUZ (A.), REVILIA (R.J.), DY (F.), MARCOS, BAUTISTA (J.M.), ROQUE, DOMOGAN, DEGAMO, LEGAZPI, SAN FERNANDO, CENDAÑA, MERCADO-REVILLA, VELOSO-TUAZON, RECTO, RIVERA, GONZALES (A.) AND GARDIOLA AN ACT MANDATING ALL BARANGAYS TO CREATE A REGISTRY OF SKILLED WORKERS 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 "Barangay Skilled Workers

Registry Act".

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) Barangay refers to the smallest political unit in the Philippines into which cities and municipalities are divided in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code. (b) Barangay Skilled Workers Registry refers to the voluntary database of skilled workers established in every barangay, intended to make their services more accessible to the public. (c) Skilled worker refers to an individual who has acquired practical skills and knowledge and has become highly competent in a trade or craft, through formal, non-formal, or informal education, training, and experience. The skilled workers referred hereto shall in no case be limited to holders of national certificates or certificates of competency issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

SEC. 3. Establishment of the Barangay Skilled Workers Registry. - Every

barangay shall create and maintain a registry of skilled workers residing therein who voluntarily register relevant information and make their services available in the locality. The registry shall be accessible to the public, posted at the barangay hall and, where available, on its official website. Copies of the registry may also be provided upon request, subject to reasonable fees covering the actual cost of reproduction, as may be provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The registry shall be digitally recorded with the assistance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and integrated, as far as practicable, with existing national databases such as the registry of barangay inhabitants and migrants of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the databases of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), including the National Skills Registry Program (NSRP), the Public Employment Information System, PHILJOBNET, and the Labor Market Information System. The barangay registry may likewise be linked to other employment information systems that may hereafter be established by law, in order to ensure consistency, avoid duplication, and strengthen the collection and utilization of labor market data. The registry shall likewise serve as a planning tool for barangays and TESDA in identifying local skills gaps and recommending appropriate training programs for residents. The barangay shall coordinate with the Public Employment Service Office of the city or municipality for the validation of information and the integration of registry data into the NSRP and other DOLE employment facilitation systems.

SEC. 4. Contents of the Registry. - All skilled workers who want their names included

in the skilled workers registry shall provide the following details or information, to be disclosed and made readily available to the public, subject to their written consent: (a) Name of the skilled worker; (b) Address; (c) Contact details; (d) Skills and nature of jobs or services offered; (e) TESDA National Certificate number and expiration date, if any, or any other certificates on seminar or training attended relevant to the services offered; (f) One (1) valid government-issued identity document, or in the absence thereof, a barangay-issued certificate of identity, as may be provided in the IRR; and (g) Any other detail which the barangay deems necessary.

SEC. 5. Worker Identification and Recognition. - Every Barangay shall issue

identification cards to skilled workers included in the registry, free of charge or at a minimal cost covering only the actual production expenses, as may be provided in the IRR. The identification card shall serve as proof of registration and as a means to establish trust and credibility between workers and clients. The DILG shall, in coordination with the DOLE and TESDA, issue guidelines under the IRR to ensure that the registry and corresponding identification system promote the recognition, professionalism, and fair compensation of skilled workers. The identification card shall serve solely as proof of inclusion in the Barangay Skilled Workers Registry and shall not be construed as a certification of skills or qualifications.

SEC. 6. Prohibition on Collection of Registration Fees. - No fee shall be collected

for the inclusion of a skilled worker in the registry. Reasonable fees may be charged for the reproduction of registry records, as provided in the IRR.

SEC. 7. Annual Updating of the Registry. - The barangay shall update the registry

of skilled workers at the beginning of every year. This is without prejudice to the right of skilled workers to request the barangay to immediately reflect any significant change in their information.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the

approval of this Act, the DILG shall, in consultation with DOLE, TESDA, PSA, the National Privacy Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and other concerned stakeholders, formulate and issue the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional

or invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules ano

regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,