REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11197, January 18, 2019

AN ACT CONVERTING THE KABASALAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KABASALAN, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY INTO THE ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (ZSPI) 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 "Zamboanga Sibugay Polytechnic Institute (ZSPI) Act".

Sec. 2. Conversion. - The Kabasalan Institute of Technology in the Municipality of Kabasalan, Province of Zamboanga Sibugay is hereby converted into a polytechnic institute to be known as the Zamboanga Sibugay Polytechnic Institute (ZSPI), hereinafter referred to as the Institute, under the supervision and administration of 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 Senior High School Program of the Department of Education (DepED), the Institute shall endeavor to restructure its technical-vocational 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 (l)-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 Kabasalan and adjacent municipalities in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay 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 Zamboanga Sibugay, in particular, as weH 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, Kabasalan, 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 Kabasalan and all localities comprising the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay 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 Zamboanga Sibugay.

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 Kabasalan and to the most economically depressed areas in the province.

Further, as deemed necessary and practicable, in coordination with the DepED and the TESDA, the Institute shall render relevant teachers' training assistance and curriculum design to the secondary schools offering the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of the DepED in the communities and areas within the operational radius of the Institute.

Sec. 4. Curricular Offering/Training Programs. - The Institute shall offer one (l)-year to three (3)-year technical-vocational 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 Kabasalan and the other municipalities in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, 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 Zamboanga Sibugay 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) Basic business literacy training in financial management and marketing, practical accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures, business processes and application procedures including registration, licensing, documentation, business patent and intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment opportunities sourcing, including online home-based business;

(e) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in such areas as farming-fishing operations technology, backyard farming and home-based aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant farmers and fieherfolk continuing trainings for increased productivity and entrepreneurship;

(f) 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 relevant technical skills courses;

(g) Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital technology, web design, photoshop/ online photography, computer design and advertising;

(h) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placement, work ethics and values; and

(i) Other preferred priority skills that may be needed by the people of Kabasalan and relevant to the needs of the other service areas in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay 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 Kabasalan Institute of Technology into the Zamboanga Sibugay 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/trainors 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, Kabasalan, 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 Zamboanga Sibugay 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 Kabasalan Institute of Technology 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 Kabasalan Institute of Technology are hereby declared property of the Zamboanga Sibugay 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 Kabasalan, Province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

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 Kabasalan Institute of Technology. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the operation of the Zamboanga Sibugay 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 shall 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:

(SGD.) VICENTE C. SOTTO III           President of the Senate

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO         Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives on February 27,2018, amended by the Senate on October 10, 2018, and which amendment was concurred in by the House of Representatives on November 14, 2018. 

(SGD.) MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA           Secretary of the Senate

(SGD.) DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING         Acting Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: JAN 18 2019

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
  President of the Philippines
 

Manila Bulletin, February 22, 2019