Northern Mindanao Polytechnic Institute Act

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No. 8580 BY REPRESENTATIVES COVERA, ACIDRE, LIBANAN, RODRIGUEZ (R.), FRESNEDI, ORETA, ESCUDERO, ALANO, AGYAO, GARCIA (K.H.), SAGARBARRIA, LUMAYAG, GATCHALIAN, DAZA, CENDAÑA, DIORNO, MONTES, LOPEZ, BAUTISTA (J.M.), AMANTE, RODRIGUEZ. (E.), CALDERON, AMATONG, SAN FERNANDO, SALVADOR, VERGARA, ELAGO, ROMAN, CO AND SUANSING (M.A.) AN ACT CONVERTING THE NORTHERN MINDANAO SCHOOL OF FISHERIES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BUENAVISTA, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL NORTE INTO A POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, TO BE KNOWN AS THE "NORTHERN MINDANAO POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Norther Mindanao

Polytechnic Institute Act".

SEC. 2. Conversion. - The Northem Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) located

in the Municipality of Buenavista, Province of Agusan del Norte, is converted into a polytechnic institution under the supervision and administration of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). It shall be known as the "Northern Mindanao Polytechnic Institute (NMPI)", hereinafter referred to as the Institute.

SEC. 3. General Mandate. - The Institute shall restructure its technical-vocational

education and training (TVET) programs to become the provider of leading edge technical- vocational skills for the local and international labor market, and ensure alignment with the standards of the industry. To this end, the Institute shali upgrade its curricular standards and provide higher level competency qualifications for instruction in TESDA-registered TVET programs and certificate courses. It shall provide a wide array of relevant skills training and trade specialization courses to facilitate the acquisition by the citizenry of the necessary technical-vocational skills and that shali enhance their access to gainful employment, practical livelihood, entrepreneurial opportunities, and thus hasten the development of the host area and the adjacent localities in the Province of Agusan del Norte into human resource and productivity hubs.

Priority admission to the Institute, including availment of scholarships, grants-in-aid and other forms of student financial assistance, shall be given to the most economically disadvantaged students, out-of-school youths, persons with disabitities, and indigenous peoples of the Municipality of Buenavista and the adjacent localities to ensure their development into productive, self-reliant and globally competitive skilled labor assets. The Institute shall serve as a TESDA-accredited assessment center, subject to the Northern Samar.

SEC. 4. Curricular Offerings and Training Programs. - The Institute shall offer

TESDA-registered TVET programs, undergraduate postsecondary short-term and certificate/diploma courses, and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills specialization. To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Govemment (DILG), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), business-industry partners, and other agencies and instrumentalities, both local and international, shall provide the necessary assistance so the Institute can produce skilled manpower to supply the needs of a robust and inclusive economy. The Institute may establish research and technology hubs, technology development farms, satellite or extension campuses, promote robile training programs, and strengthen linkages with industry partners and the academe. It shall also adopt the use of innovative training modes such as information technology-assisted instruction, dual training system pursuant to Republic Act No. 7686 or the "Dual Training System Act of 1994", open distance leaming pursuant to Republic Act No. 10650 or the "Open Distance Leaming Act", community laboratory, virtual and blended learning modes, and such other instructional programs that shali allow local residents greater access to the TVET program offerings of the NMPI. Course completion at the Institute shall be credited through skills competency assessment under National Certification Levels Ill to V of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) pursuant to Republic Act No. 10968 or the "PQF Act". The TVET competency of the student may also qualify for academic degree recognition pursuant to Republic Act No. 10647 or the "Ladderized Education Act of 2014": Provided, That the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education for credit transfer are complied with. The Institute shall offer skills development for higher competency qualifications in areas relating to technical industrial education, trade technology, tourism, agricultural technology, business literacy, and innovation in TESDA-registered skills, as follows: (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) Tourism and hospitality-related courses relating to hotel, restaurant, and tourism development management; (c) 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; (d) 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; (e) Basic business literacy training in financial management, marketing, accountancy, bookkeeping, 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; (f) Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, masonry, piumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer servicing, and such other relevant practical skills courses; (g) Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, web development, animation (3D Digital), game development, and computer-alded design application; (h) Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English and other languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job placement; (i) Seminars on 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 Municipality of Buenavista and the adjacent localities to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial activities.

SEC. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act

notwithstanding, the conversion of the NMSF into the Institute shall become operational only upon the issuance by the TESDA of a formal recommendation and certificate of compliance attesting that the Institute has satisfactorily complied with the minimum standards of quality it has prescribed governing the following: (a) standard procedures and guidelines for the conversion and operation of a TESDA polytechnic institute; (b) operational sustainability of the Institute in terms of licensed faculty-trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials, and other standard requirements of a TESDA- accredited and supervised school; (c) sustainable funding source and regular allocation of

budgetary requirement for TESDA-operated schools; (d) full alignment of the training programs offered with the minimum standards of competency-based quality technical- the conversion of the NMSF into the Institute.

SEC. 6. Administration. - The institute shall be headed by a Vocational School

Superintendent under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full-time service and be responsible for its administration and operation. The Vocational School Superintendent shall be appointed by the TESDA Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the qualification requirements for such office. The Vocational School Superintendent shall enter into agreement with locally-based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons, and seek such assistance as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General. The academic and administrative staff of the institute shall be organized following the staffing patter of the TESDA for such type of schools, pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations of the CSC.

SEC. 7. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. - All assets, fixed and movable,

personnel, records and documents, as well as the liabilities or obligations of the NMSF shall be transferred to the Institute: Provided, That the positions, rights and security of tenure of faculty and personnel therein employed prior to its conversion into the Institute, shall not be impaired. All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the defunct NMS are henceforth declared the property of the Institute and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should the Institute cease to exist or such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the Institute, the same shall revert to the concerned local government unit (LGU), or to the Province of Agusan del Norte.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial operation of the

Institute shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the NMSF. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the

approval of this Act, the TESDA shail, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST, DA, Department of Budget and Management, DILG, DEPDev, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act

is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected are in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and

regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shali take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete

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