As proposed by Liberal Party Rep. Roman T. Romulo in House Bill 4878, every barangay shall be required to generate and make publicly available a registry that will serve as a database for all skilled laborers who voluntarily enlist and are willing to make their services readily available.
In filing the bill, Romulo, chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said “this is 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 said.
Under the bill, skilled workers shall refer to persons with competencies, such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, auto mechanics, welders, fitter machinists, computer technicians, refrigeration and air-conditioning servicemen, and electro-mechanical technicians, among others, who can cater to the needs of establishments, as well as households in the barangay or elsewhere. The bill also said they shall, in no case, be limited to holders of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-expertise certificates, Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) licenses, or other accreditation.
The measure added that the registry shall include the worker’s name, address, contact details, skills and/or nature of jobs or services offered, certifications, relevant training or seminars attended, plus a photocopy of two government-issued ID cards.
The skilled workers have to be residents of the barangay, which shall disseminate information as to how a laborer may enlist, absolutely free of any fees the bill said.
It adds that, upon submission of a request form prescribed by the barangay, any person or entity may access the registry, which shall be updated at the start of every year.
A previous survey by Pulse Asia Research Inc. indicated that “creating more jobs” is one of the five urgent national concerns, along with fighting corruption, controlling high prices, improving the pay of workers and reducing poverty.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz