AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE LIFELONG LEARNING DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK, BROADENING THE MANDATE OF THE PHILIPPINE QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK - NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL (PGQ - NCC), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10968, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PQF ACT", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

(8.2) Encouraging all stakeholders to provide quality learning opportunities and unique contributions towards building a learning city, municipality, or barangay, with stakeholders' commitment, plans, and actions for the development of better, more accessible learning opportunities within their areas of responsibility and the existence of partnerships and cooperation between the city, municipality, or barangay, and the private sector to support the learning strategy, as success measures; (8.3) Strengthening intersectoral coordination mechanisms to involve governmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector in effectively building learning cities, municipalities, or barangays to encourage stakeholder mobilization and coordination in developing learning cities, municipalities, or barangays, as success measure; (8.4) Establishing coordination among government and stakeholders in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of labor market information, with the use of tools and latest technologies, supportive of skills development and lifelong learning policies, strategies, and programs, as success measure; and (8.5) Establishing an inter-LGU mechanism to support the development and implementation of related lifelong learning programs. (9) Boosting of Resource Mobilization and Utilization. - The following activities and corresponding success measures shall fall under this component: (9.1) Encouraging greater financial investment in lifelong learning by the national and local governments, civil society, private sector organizations, and individuals, with public expenditure on education and learning as a percentage of the total LGU budget, and for different levels or types of education, as success measure; (9.2) Making effective use of all stakeholders' learning resources and developing innovative funding mechanisms to support lifelong learning for all, with innovative initiatives of mapping and utilizing human, financial, cultural, and other resources available to the city, municipality, or barangay to facilitate learning, as success measure; (9.3) Adopting pro-poor funding policies and providing various types of support to disadvantaged groups, with the allocation and effective use of fund to support the participation of disadvantaged groups in learning, as success measure; (9.4) Encouraging citizens to contribute their talents, skills, knowledge, and experience on a voluntary basis, with citizens' contribution to helping other citizens, as success measure; and (9.5) Encouraging the exchange of ideas, experience, and best practices between and among organizations in different cities, municipalities, and barangays, with the number of international, inter-city, inter-municipality, or inter-barangay partnerships and exchanges with other lifelong learning institutions, as success measure. The success measures for each component shall b reviewed and evaluated annually, and amended and modified by the PQF-NCC, as it may deem necessary. For each success measure, whether enumerated under this Act or thereafter amended or modified, performance indicators shall be identified by the PQF-NCC. SEC. 6. Additional Role and Member of the PQF-NCC. - The mandate of the PQF-NCC established by virtue of Republic Act No. 10968 is further strengthened to assume the powers and functions provided under this Act. In addition to the existing composition of the PQF-NCC, the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry shall be members of the PQF-NCC. All members of the PQF-NCC may designate their respective representatives, whose rank shall not be lower than Assistant Secretary or its equivalent. SEC. 7. Additional Powers and Functions of the PQF-NCC. - In addition to its mandate under Republic Act No. 10968, the PQF-NCC shall have the following specific powers and functions: (a) Formulate, implement, review, and amended the LLDF, including the action components and success measures, for the effective implementation of this Act; (b) Formulate a master plan, in consultation with relevant government agencies, for the promotion of lifelong learning and the designation of learning cities, municipalities, or barangays; develop guidelines for designation as such; and designate these LGUs based on such guidelines; (c) Monitor and evaluate the master plan and work with the LGUs on its mandatory implementation and execution; (d) Implement the PCTS within and across the different levels of education and modalities of delivery and recognition, in partnership with lifelong learning institutions, and the Philippine Qualifications Register (PhQuaR); (e) Include in its annual report to the Office of the President, the Senate of the Philippines, and the House of Representatives its progress and accomplishments in relation to the LLDF; (f) Support the capabilities and capability-building activities of the designated learning city, municipality, or barangay to effectively implement and measure the achievements/outcomes of the Master Plan; (g) Integrate relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 8759 or the "Public Employment Service Office Act of 1999" to facilitate a seamless transition between education and employment; (h) Recommend criteria for programs that promote sustainable education under Republic Act No. 11292 or "The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019". These criteria shall be aligned with the Lifelong Learning National Master Plan and shall serve as basis for recognizing local government initiatives that foster inclusive, accessible, and quality lifelong learning opportunities; and (i) Perform such other functions related to the implementation of the LLDF. SEC. 8. Lifelong Learning National Master Plan. - Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the PQF-NCC, with the participation of relevant stakeholders, shall formulate a national master plan to promote lifelong learning that aligns with and supports the objectives and priorities of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The master plan shall serve as a strategic blueprint for the promotion of lifelong learning and the establishment of learning cities, municipalities, or barangays across the country. The master plan shall be reviewed every five (5) years to ensure its alignment with evolving national development goals and stakeholder needs. It shall include the following components: (a) Medium- and long-term policy objectives and basic direction for lifelong learning promotion and the establishment of learning cities, municipalities, or barangays; (b) Implementation of lifelong learning activities and guidelines for the funding of lifelong learning providers; (c) Investment plans and budgetary requirements for the promotion and expansion of lifelong learning providers and learning cities, municipalities, or barangays; and (d) Guidelines for the evaluation of lifelong education programs and learning cities, municipalities, or barangays.