Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute (Nspi) Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 MAY 20 A11 :14 SENATE RECEIVED 2145 S. No. - Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino AN ACT CONVERTING THE BALICUATRO COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TRADES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ALLEN, PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMAR INTO THE NORTHERN SAMAR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades in the Municipality of Allen, Province of Northern Samar, provides accessible technical and vocational education to students and out-of-school youth in the area. This bill seeks to convert the institution into the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute under the supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The proposed conversion will strengthen its capacity to deliver industry-aligned technical-vocational education, including diploma, certificate, and short-term training programs that equip learners with practical and employable skills, and support workforce development in the province. The conversion is expected to expand access to quality skills training and contribute to employment generation and local economic development in Northern Samar. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Bam quin

Office of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session MAY 20 A11 :14 SENATE 2145 RECEIVED B S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino AN ACT CONVERTING THE BALICUATRO COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TRADES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ALLEN, PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMAR INTO THE NORTHERN SAMAR 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 "Northern Samar

2 Polytechnic Institute (NSPI) Act."

Sec. 2. Conversion. - The Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades in the

Municipality of Allen, Province of Northern Samar is hereby converted into a Ur A polytechnic institute to be known as the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute (NSPI), hereinafter referred to as the Institute, under the supervision and administration of 7 the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Sec. 3. General Mandate. - In line with the adoption of the Philippine

Qualifications Framework (PQF) and the programs of the Commission on Higher 10 Education (CHED), the Institute shall endeavor to restructure its technical-vocational 11 education curricular programs to make them responsive to the rapidly changing demands of the industry and the labor market in both the domestic and global fronts, and within the context of the mutual recognition arrangements embodied in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration framework and other relevant international agreements for technical-vocational education. The Institute shall endeavor to offer higher level competency qualifications in technical-industrial education programs and technology and shall continue to upgrade its curricular standards as a tertiary TESDA-polytechnic educational institution that caters to wide-ranging specialized technical, creative, and conceptual knowledge and skills demonstrating depth and complexity in the planning, evaluation, initiation and management of approaches to competency-compliant technical skills and functional knowledge application. The Institute shall offer a wide array of one (1)-year to three (3)-year TESDA-registered technical-vocational curricular skills training programs and certificate courses, and shall aim to meet the competency requirements under Level

V of the PQF, which is the Diploma Level in technical-vocational education. It shall primarily provide tertiary undergraduate technical-vocational education, and shall likewise ensure the provision of various skills trainings and trade specialization courses relevant to the needs of the province, specifically geared towards the acquisition of employable skills, gainful employment, practical livelihood, and entrepreneurship. The Institute shall play a lead role in helping students and out-of-school youths and residents from low-income families and persons with disabilities in the Municipality of Allen and adjacent municipalities in the Province of Northern Samar become productive and self-reliant, and to become part of a globally competitive middle to high-level skilled labor force to hasten the social and economic development of the Province of Northern Samar, in particular, as well as meet the manpower needs of both local and international labor markets, in general. The Institute shall consider in the design of relevant technical-vocational training programs and courses to be offered thereat a competency assessment of the socioeconomic profile, employment conditions and opportunities, business climate, market and industry potentials, resources available and presence of support structures, including the literacy level and skills readiness, and the overall development needs of the host area, Allen, and adjacent communities within the operational radius of the Institute. It shall likewise consider the relevant skills and trade competencies, craftsmanship training programs, and entrepreneurship activities needed to deliver the effective employment and development interventions required to make Allen and all localities comprising the Province of Northern Samar human resource and economic productivity hubs. The Institute shall also serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired competencies in technical-vocational skills in the entire Province of Northern Samar. Priority admission to the Institute and availment of technical-vocational education thereat, including scholarships, grants-in-aid, and student financial assistance, however, shall be given to the most disadvantaged citizens of the Municipality of Allen and to the most economically depressed areas in the province. Further, as deemed necessary and practicable, in coordination with the CHED and the TESDA, the Institute shall render relevant teachers' training assistance and curriculum design offering the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the CHED and the TESDA in the communities and areas within the operational radius of the Institute.

Sec. 4. Curricular Offering/Training Programs. - The Institute shall offer one

(1)-year to three (3)-year diploma courses and undergraduate certificate, including short-term courses and modular trainings in diverse relevant technical-vocational and industrial technology education, to comply with employment standards in preferred market-driven labor opportunities, but shall give premium efforts, however, to skills specialization for local market employment requirements geared towards achieving the development needs for a robust inclusive economy of the Municipality of Allen and

the other municipalities in the Province of Northern Samar, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and such other relevant agencies. The Institute may establish, as deemed necessary and practicable, research and technology hubs, mobile training programs, and satellite or extension training centers in priority areas throughout the Province of Northern Samar to strengthen linkages between the industry, the academe, and the technology programs thereat. It shall likewise adopt the use of innovative training modes such as information technology-assisted instruction, dual learning system, open or distance education, and community laboratory and such other instructional programs to afford the community greater access to technical-vocational education and skills training. The Institute shall, as far as necessary and practicable, offer TESDA-registered technical-vocational courses and short-term training programs. Course completion in these programs shall be credited through skills competency assessment under National Certification (NC) Levels I to V, as applicable, and shall further qualify for academic recognition under the Ladderized Interface System for tertiary education, if compliant with the requirements under said program. The Institute shall, as necessary and practicable, offer skills development options for higher competency qualifications in technical-industrial education, trade technology, tourism, agricultural technology, business literacy, and innovation in TESDA-registered skills courses as follows: (a) Industrial education and technology, including skills training in industrial trades, metal and steel works, machine fabrication, heavy equipment operations, automotive mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools and equipment for both light grade use and industrial purposes; (b) Tourism and hospitality-related courses relating to hotel, restaurant and tourism development management, including social communication skills training, language proficiency courses in English and other languages for business outsourcing employment and overseas job placement; (c) Livelihood skills development courses for small-scale income generating opportunities and entrepreneurship training, including practical skills education in crafts and arts, workmanship and designing (fabric, woodworks, jewelry and metal works), agriculture and farm technology, backyard gardening and propagation, horticulture, home-based aquaculture, livestock raising, food processing technology, home technology, culinary arts, beauty culture, health and wellness trainings; (d) Technical-vocational occupation such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, practical electricity, automotive technician and servicing, electronics technician and servicing, welding technician, personal computer (PC) servicing, and such other related technical skills courses;

(e) Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital technology, web design, Photoshop/online photography, computer design and advertising; (f) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placement, work ethics and values; (g) Other preferred priority skills that may be needed by the people of Allen and relevant to the needs of the other service areas in the Province of Northern Samar to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment and entrepreneurship skills.

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

notwithstanding, the conversion of the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades into the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute shall become operationally effective only upon the determination and declaration of the TESDA through the issuance of a formal recommendation and Certificate of Compliance that the Institute has satisfactorily complied with the minimum requirements and quality standards prescribed by the TESDA governing the following: (a) Standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment, or conversion and operation of TESDA polytechnic institute of technical education and TESDA technology institution; (b) Operational sustainability of the polytechnic institute established herein in terms of licensed faculty/trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials, and other standard requirements as TESDA-accredited center; (c) Sustainable funding source and allocation of budget requirement of the TESDA polytechnic institute hereto established; (d) Assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and needs of the host municipality, Allen, and adjacent areas served in the context of the PQF and ASEAN framework for technical-vocational education; and (e) Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities as may be necessary and applicable in its conversion into the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute.

Sec. 6. Administration. - The Institute shall be headed by a School

Superintendent under the supervision of the TESDA and appointed by the TESDA Director General in accordance with civil service rules and regulations and the qualification requirements and standards for such office. The School Superintendent shall render full-time services and shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the Institute. The academic and administrative staff of the Institute shall

] be organized following the staffing pattern of the TESDA for such type of schools pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations.

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

personnel, records, and documents of the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades as well as its liabilities or obligations shall be transferred to the Institute: Provided, That the positions, rights and security of tenure of faculty and personnel therein employed pursuant to existing laws prior to its conversion into the Institute shall not be impaired. All parcels of land belonging to the government occupied by the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades are hereby declared property of the Northern Samar Polytechnic 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 local government unit (LGU) concerned, or to the Municipality of Allen, Province of Northern Samar.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount needed to initially implement the

provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Balicuatro College of Arts and Trades. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the operation of the Northern Samar Polytechnic Institute 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, in coordination with the DOLE, the DTI, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DILG, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, shall prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section of this Act be

deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected and shall thereby remain in force and in effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,

rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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