JAN.

20, 2015

NR # 3717

Bill creates a youth entrepreneurship act

Rep. Rene L. Relampagos (1st District, Bohol) has filed a bill establishing the
proposed Poverty Reduction through Youth Entrepreneurship Act dubbed as one of the
main drivers of economic growth and social progress.
Relampagos said House Bill 5169 seeks to stimulate interest in entrepreneurship
among the Filipino youth by providing entrepreneurship opportunities, financial and
technical assistance and by incorporating subjects and competencies in entrepreneurship in
the school curriculum.
Relampagos said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are important
sources of employment and productivity growth.
We need to equip the youth with the necessary skills and values to turn their ideas
into successful business and to be able to sustain growth amidst challenges, Relampagos
said.
Relampagos said the new generation of entrepreneurs would also pave the way for
the creation of more MSMEs, a strong engine of growth in the country.
We hope that through the passage of this bill, we will further foster
entrepreneurship among our youth with the ultimate goal of fueling and improving the
countrys growth, prosperity and quality of life, Relampagos said.
Under the measure, the Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with
learning organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), Local Government Units
(LGUs) and other concerned groups, shall develop and integrate subjects and
competencies in entrepreneurship in their curriculum.
At the primary level, the subjects or competencies on entrepreneurship will
principally focus on teaching the fundamental and ideal values necessary to become
successful entrepreneurs, which include to being hardworking, creative, cost-efficient and
learning the propensity to save.
On the other hand, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are directed to develop and
integrate subjects and competencies in entrepreneurship in the curriculum of postsecondary level.
The bill mandates the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to help in
strengthening the entrepreneurial capabilities of the youth by providing support and

training as needed. These interventions may include linkages to private industries, strong
information campaign, business infrastructure support and mentoring.
DTI shall seek partnership with the private sector, the academe and the civil society
in order to achieve its objectives.
The measure provides for the creation of an Entrepreneurship Education Committee
which is tasked to ensure coherence and clear progression in the learning objectives and
course design, study and standardize all current efforts of schools and institutions to teach
subjects and competencies in entrepreneurship and research best practices in foreign
countries.
Under the bill, the DepEd shall develop subjects and competencies for primary,
secondary and alternative learning school students and train primary, secondary and
alternative learning school teachers all over the country to teach subjects and
competencies developed.
It shall also prepare methods, through their consultants, to evaluate the effect of
entrepreneurial education and improve the subject and competencies design as necessary
and develop the subjects and competencies for inclusion by the DepEd in the required
training and education for aspiring primary, secondary and alternative learning school
teachers. (30) lvc