CABAGAN, ISABELA — A proposed skills-training hub in Cabagan moved one major step closer to becoming a reality after the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 10434 on third and final reading, seeking to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Training and Assessment Center in the municipality.
The measure, principally authored by Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, was filed on July 30, 2026. It is classified as a local bill and was referred to the House committees on Higher and Technical Education and Appropriations. The bill’s stated purpose is to create a dedicated TESDA facility in Cabagan that would provide technical-vocational education and training as well as competency assessment.
Skills training closer to Isabela communities
Under the proposed measure, the Cabagan, Isabela TESDA Provincial Training and Assessment Center would operate under TESDA supervision and be located in an accessible area of the municipality, subject to arrangements with TESDA and concerned local government units.
The proposed center is designed to expand access to technical-vocational education and training (TVET) for residents, particularly those from low-income families and other sectors that may face barriers to skills development.
The measure also targets out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples, with the broader goal of helping beneficiaries acquire practical skills that can lead to employment, livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities. Similar provisions have appeared in earlier versions of the Cabagan TESDA proposal, showing that the push for a dedicated training facility has been a long-running legislative effort.
Cabagan already has TESDA-related training options
The proposed center would not be entering a completely new skills-training environment.
TESDA’s current listings show that training providers in Cabagan already offer programs in areas such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Driving, Housekeeping and agricultural-related qualifications. Isabela State University’s Cabagan Campus also appears in TESDA’s registered-training listings for programs including Agricultural Crops Production, Organic Agriculture Production, Animal Health Care and Management, and Electrical Installation and Maintenance.
That makes the proposed provincial center potentially significant: rather than replacing existing providers, it could add a government-backed training and assessment facility to the local skills-development ecosystem and potentially broaden access to nationally recognized technical-vocational qualifications.
The jobs and livelihood angle
The proposal comes as Cabagan and surrounding communities continue to pursue programs aimed at improving household livelihoods.
In July, the Philippine Information Agency reported that around 275 residents from vulnerable communities in Cabagan received more than ₱7.3 million in livelihood assistance through DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program. The assistance was intended to help community associations establish or expand income-generating enterprises.
The development highlights why skills training and livelihood support can complement each other. Capital can help launch a small enterprise, but technical skills, certification and entrepreneurship training can help beneficiaries build the capacity needed to sustain it.
This is not yet a law
Despite the House approval, the measure is not yet a law.
Approval on third reading means the House has completed its consideration of the bill. The legislative process still requires action from the Senate, followed by the remaining steps needed before a measure can become law.
That distinction is important for prospective beneficiaries. No new Cabagan TESDA provincial center should be treated as operational solely because the House has approved HB 10434.
The House’s official record currently identifies HB 10434 as a measure establishing the Cabagan, Isabela TESDA Provincial Training and Assessment Center and appropriating funds for it.
A proposal years in the making
The Cabagan TESDA project is not a new idea.
Earlier versions of legislation seeking a TESDA training and assessment center in Cabagan were introduced in previous Congresses. A 2020 House measure, HB 7522, was approved by the House on third reading in September 2020, while subsequent versions were filed in the 19th Congress and again in 2025. The latest 20th Congress measure reflects the continuing effort to establish a dedicated TESDA facility in the municipality.
The latest House approval therefore represents another significant push—but not the finish line.
For Cabagan residents hoping for more accessible skills training, certification and employment opportunities, the next chapter will depend on what happens after the House vote.
The bill has cleared the House. Now, the real test begins in the next stage of the legislative process.
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