The House of Representatives has approved on final reading a bill declaring San Jose del Monte City (SJDM) in Bulacan the human resource capital of the Philippines.
Voting was unanimous with all 220 congressmen present on Monday’s plenary session raising affirmative votes to the bill authored by Rep. Rida P. Robes, who represents the city.
HB 2378 recognizes SJDM as haven of human resource in the country because it can be tapped by government for its skills and livelihood training programs to promote employment and accelerate economic and social growth.
The city located in northern Metro Manila has been the preferred government site for human relocation, said Robes.
The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority “to formulate policies and implement plans and programs for the enhancement of the city’s Human Resources such the establishment of training centers, the delivery of skills and livelihood training programs and the promotion of quality technical-vocational education.”
Robes said her constituents have expressed their gratitude to the entire Lower House headed by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
She also thanked her colleagues for approving the bill saying this will enable hundreds of thousands of residents from the 40 relocation sites in the city and 150 residential subdivisions to gain skills and livelihood training for their eventual employment.
“We have a huge human resource pool just waiting to be trained and tapped for employment. As a human resource capital, the City will become a haven to training institutes that will enhance the capabilities of the residents of the City and neighboring towns,” said Robes.
She added: “As such, its approval is deemed a response to the call to alleviate poverty by tapping human resource as a means to improve the economy.”
The bill is co-authored by Reps. Enrico Pineda, Michael Aglipay, Mark Go, Ma. Theresa Collantes, Leonardo Babasa Jr., Fernando Cabredo, Rowena Niña Taduran, Cheryl Delloso-Montalla, Ferdinand Gaite and Lawrence Fortun.