Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
____ REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. 2068 
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING DISCOUNTED FEES AND CHARGES TO INDIGENT JOB 
SEEKERS IN THE ISSUANCE OF PRE-EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS ISSUED 
BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to protect labor and promote full 
employment and equal opportunities for all, ensuring security of tenure, humane 
working conditions, and a living wage (Art. XIII, Sec. 3). It also directs the State to foster 
a just and dynamic social order by reducing poverty and improving quality of life through 
inclusive policies (Art. II, Sec. 9–10). 
For many unemployed Filipinos, especially the poor, a key obstacle to gaining 
employment is the cost of securing mandatory pre-employment documents such as 
police clearances, medical certificates, and government-issued IDs. These costs often 
deter indigent individuals from pursuing job opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of 
poverty. 
This proposed measure seeks to eliminate or reduce such barriers by waiving or 
discounting fees charged by government agencies for the issuance of pre-employment 
documents to indigent job seekers. The aim is to ensure fair and equal access to 
employment by aligning public services with the needs of the most vulnerable. 
Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
Bagong Henerasyon Party-List 
July 17, 2025
10:56 am


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. 2068 
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING DISCOUNTED FEES AND CHARGES TO INDIGENT JOB 
SEEKERS IN THE ISSUANCE OF PRE-EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS ISSUED 
BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act shall be known as the “Indigent Job Seekers Fee Waiver Act of 2025”. 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the State to promote equal opportunity and access to gainful 
employment for all Filipinos, especially the poor and the marginalized. By reducing or 
removing unnecessary financial burdens in the job seeking process.  
Further, the State shall strive for a more equitable distribution of opportunities, decent 
jobs, income, and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services 
produced by the nation for the benefit of the people, and an expanding productivity as 
the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged. To this end, the 
State shall provide indigent job seekers a twenty percent (20%) discount in the payment 
of fees and charges or waived fees for certain certificates and clearances issued by 
government agencies.  
SECTION 3. COVERAGE. 
As used in this Act, an indigent job seeker refers to a Filipino citizen who is actively 
seeking gainful employment and has no visible means of income or whose income falls 
below the official poverty threshold, as identified by the National Economic and 
Development Authority and/or cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide their 
minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing and other essential amenities 
of life.  


 
 
The Local Social Welfare Development Officer (LSWDO) of the city/municipality or any 
equivalent unit of the municipality where the indigent job seeker resides is authorized to 
issue a Certificate of Indigency based on the latest Community-Based Monitoring 
System (CBMS) data as established under Republic Act No. 11315, otherwise known as 
the “Community-Based Monitoring System Act”, abovementioned criteria and 
established guidelines, as proof of eligibility of job seekers in availing the privileges 
provided for under this Act. Such certification shall be free of charge. 
 
First time job seekers who avail of waived government fees and charges in the issuance 
of pre-employment documents under Republic Act No. 11261, otherwise known as the 
“First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act” are not covered by this Act. 
 
SECTION 4. DISCOUNTED OR WAIVED FEES. 
 
All government agencies, offices, and instrumentalities that issue the pre-employment 
documents shall provide a 50% discount on applicable fees for qualified indigent job 
seekers, upon presentation of a valid certificate of indigency. Pre-employment 
documents include, but are not limited to: 
 
A.​ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance; 
B.​ Police clearance; 
C.​ Barangay clearance; 
D.​ Certificate of Live Birth  
E.​ Certificate of Marriage 
F.​ Medical certificate from government health facilities 
G.​ PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and SSS registration documents 
H.​ Certificate of Civil Service Eligibility from the Civil Service Commission 
I.​ National Certificate and Certificate of Competency (COC) from the Technical  
J.​ Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
SECTION 5. VALIDITY OF CERTIFICATION.  
 
The certificate of indigency shall be valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance 
and may be used to avail of fee waivers or discounts multiple times within the validity 
period, unless otherwise limited by specific agency guidelines.  
 
SECTION 6. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE (PESO) ASSISTANCE. 
 
Local PESO offices shall be responsible for assisting indigent job seekers in securing 
certifications and facilitating access to the required documents. They shall also provide 
information on job fairs, training programs, and available support systems.  
 
 
SECTION 7. COORDINATION AND VALIDATION.  
 
 


 
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination with the DSWD, 
with other relevant agencies, shall issue implementing guidelines, including a uniform 
indigency certification process and data-sharing protocols with LGUs and barangays 
within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.  
 
SECTION 8. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES.  
 
Any public officer who willfully refuses or fails to issue a Certificate of Indigency, or to 
provide the benefit granted to the indigent job seeker in violation of Sections 3 and 4 of 
this Act, without just cause, shall be subject to a fine of not less than ten thousand 
pesos (PHP10,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos (PHP50,000.00) without 
prejudice to other administrative sanctions in accordance with existing civil service rules 
and applicable laws. 
A job seeker who misrepresents or falsifies any document to avail of benefits provided 
under this Act or abuses the privilege granted herein shall be prosecuted and punished 
in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 3815, as amended, 
otherwise known as the “Revised Penal Code”, and shall suffer perpetual disqualification 
in availing the privileges under this Act. 
SECTION 9. FUNDING.   
 
The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the 
respective budgets of concerned government agencies. Additional funding, if needed, 
may be provided under the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
 
SECTION 10. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS.  
 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, DOLE and in consultation with the 
DSWD, LGUs, and civil society organizations, shall issue the necessary Implementing 
Rules and Regulations. 
 
SECTION 11. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.  
 
If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall 
not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 12. REPEALING CLAUSE. 
 
All laws, executive orders, rules, or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly. 
 
 
 
SECTION 13. EFFECTIVITY.  
 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or at 
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 


 
 
Approved,