Bill creating barangay skilled workers registry hurdles second reading

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure that seeks to establish a registry of skilled workers in every barangay.

House Bill 6285, which was reported out by the House Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Pedro B. Acharon Jr. (1st District, South Cotabato) for plenary approval, is the substitute bill to House Bill 4878.

Acharon, one of the authors of the measure, said the proposal also aims to make available to residents of a barangay a list of skilled workers who shall be able to provide needed services.

Rep. Roman T. Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City), the principal author of the bill, described the proposed barangay skilled workers registry as “a practical, sensible and inexpensive way of promoting the full-time or part-time employment of local residents with a wide range of acquired proficiencies.”

“For instance, once a new industrial, commercial or service establishment comes into the community, or an existing one decides to expand, it simply has to access the barangay’s skilled labor registry. The firm does not have to look elsewhere for potential technical-vocational workers and other employable staff,” Romulo, chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said.

As defined under the measure, barangay skilled workers registry refers to the database of all skilled workers who have registered their information and qualifications at the barangays where they wish to make their services readily available.

For a skilled worker to be included in the registry, he/she should provide his/her name, address, contact details and skills and nature of job offered.

Likewise, he/she shall provide a photocopy of at least two government issued identification cards and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) national Certificate Number and expiration date, trainings or seminars attended relevant to the service offered, if any.

The measure requires the barangay to post a copy of the registry at the barangay’s bulletin board and/or at a conspicuous place within the barangay hall or on the barangay website if available.

The proposal also prohibits the barangay from collecting any fee similar to or would partake in the nature of registration fees, provided that any person who wishes to request for a copy of the database may be charged a reasonable fee to cover the actual cost of reproduction of the information requested.

Barangays are required to periodically update the registry. (30) mvip

NR # 4039

DEC 5, 2015