Bill Proposes 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 country’s 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 post-secondary 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.

SOURCE: House of Representatives Media Relations Service