Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11230)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11230 is the "Tulong-Trabaho Act."
The main objectives of the Act are: (a) to strengthen the qualifications of the Filipino workforce to meet evolving workplace demands, (b) to provide innovative approaches to Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to address unemployment and skill mismatches, (c) to facilitate access to quality TVET, and (d) to encourage industry and community participation in competency formation and upgrading.
Competencies refer to the standard knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values required to complete work activities in a particular job, trade, or occupation.
It is a program established by the Act to enhance workforce competencies, funded through the Tulong-Trabaho Fund, and designed to support Technical-Vocational Education and Training programs that align with industry requirements.
Qualified recipients include: (a) any person at least 15 years old who is not employed, not in education, and not in training (NEET), and (b) employed workers who intend to develop or expand their current skills and trainings. However, existing workers already trained by their employers in enterprise-based companies are excluded.
The Fund covers payment of fees for Selected Training Programs (STPs) including training fees, transportation allowances, laboratory fees, assessment, certification, issuance of national certificates, and other related expenses free of charge to qualified recipients.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is primarily responsible for managing the Fund. The TESDA Board promulgates policies and guidelines, and it has the power to receive donations from government and non-government organizations for the Fund.
STPs are TVET programs that can be school-based, center-based, community-based, enterprise-based, or web-based. The TESDA Board approves STPs based on labor market reports, employment data from DOLE, job and skills matching, human resource development roadmaps, and other relevant studies.
TESDA Board periodically evaluates these institutions and requires that at least 80% of beneficiaries pass the Philippine TVET Competency Assessment and Certification System. Failure to meet this passing rate subjects institutions to performance review and audits.
The Committee monitors and reviews the implementation of the Act and the disbursement of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund. It is composed of members from relevant committees of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, including minority representatives.