A proposed measure seeking to turn drug rehabilitation into a concrete pathway to employment through targeted skills training has cleared the committee level in the House of Representatives, aiming to address both joblessness and social stigma faced by recovering individuals.

The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education approved House Bill No. 4699, authored by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, which mandates the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to roll out targeted technical-vocational training and livelihood programs for rehabilitated drug dependents, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Under the bill, TESDA is directed to design and implement specialized training programs focused on market-ready skills that can lead to wage employment or small enterprise opportunities for individuals who have completed rehabilitation. 

The measure also tasks DOLE with developing incentives for private companies that hire graduates of these programs, creating a direct link between skills training and actual job placement.

“This measure recognizes that rehabilitation must go beyond treatment—it must lead to real opportunities,” Acidre, who chairs the committee, said in a statement. 

“When TESDA training is matched with actual job opportunities and incentives for companies, people who did the hard work of rehabilitation can finally move forward with more hope for a better future,” he added.

Proponents said the bill seeks to address persistent barriers faced by former drug dependents, particularly the difficulty of finding dignified work due to stigma and limited access to skills training aligned with labor market needs.

To ensure sustainability, the proposal requires TESDA to integrate funding for the program into the annual General Appropriations Act, making training slots, tools, and partner support part of its regular services rather than ad hoc initiatives.

The bill directs TESDA and DOLE to issue the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days of effectivity, covering course design, certification, employer engagement, and monitoring of employment outcomes.

Following the committee approval, the measure moves to the House plenary for deliberation.

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