'^r;y<Sffjcf ot U;e
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. °10
•22 JUL-7 P5:42
RKCEIVlDBY;
Introduced by: SENATOR RAFFY T. TULFO
AN ACT PROVIDING POOR JOB APPLICANTS A 20% DISCOUNT IN THE 
PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATES AND 
CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on income and job 
opportunities amongst Filipinos for the past two and a half years. By May 2022, the 
number of poor Filipino families has risen to a staggering figure of 10.9 Million.1
The governmenfs role and responsibility in alleviating poverty by enacting 
legislative measures to help the unemployed, hungry and unhealthy has never been 
more urgent and Imperative. While the country slowly eases to pre-pandemic working 
conditions, there is a need to re-absorb those who have been displaced of their 
employment back into the workforce to attain economic stability and financial security.
1 Parocha, Azer. More needs to be done'after poor Pinoy families rise to 10.9M, 19 May 2022, 
available at httDs://www.Dna.QQv.ph/articies/1174851 (last accessed July 6,2022).


Thus, the prcx:ess of economic recovery would be made much easier and faster 
if the government, through practical legislative measures, extends a helping hand to 
the majority of poor Filipinos who remain jobless by making the process of finding 
jobs equally less burdensome to them.
After all, as former President Ramon Magsaysay once said, "Those who have 
less in life, should have more in law."
By giving a 20% discount to indigent job seekers in the payment of fees or 
charges for clearances and certificates which are normally required for employment, 
this bill will level the playing field and make the job application process less costly for 
the majority of Filipinos searching for gainful employment.
On the basis of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
iba Tuifo


-senate
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 210
^ I,
of tlji' fcr-C' liar]’
•22 JUL-7 P5*42
RECElVtD BY:
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfb
AN ACT PROVIDING POOR JOB APPLICANTS A 20% DISCOUNT IN THE 
PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATES AND 
CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
1 
SEC-1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Poor Job Ac^licants
2 
Discount Act'.
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy, — It is the policy of the State to promote a
4 
just and dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation
5 
and line the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
6 
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and on improved quality
7 
of life for all.
8 
Further, the State shall strive for a more equitable distribution of opportunities,
9 
income and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services
10 
produced by the nation for the benefit of the people, and an expanding productivity
11 
as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged. To this
12 
end, the State shall provide a twenty percent (20%) discount for poor job applicants
13 
in the payment of fees and charges for certain certificate and clearances issued by
14 
government agencies.


1 
SEC- 3- Provision of Twenty Percent (20%) Discount^ - Poor job applicants,
2 
whether here or abroad, shall be granted a twenty percent (20%) discount in the
3 
payment of fees and charges for the following clearances and certificates requisite for
4 
pre-employment application:
5 
(a) Clearance from the barangay where the applicant resides;
6 
(b) Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
7 
(c) Clearance from the Philippine National Police (PNP);
8 
(d) Medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital
9 
licensed by the Department of Health (DOH);
10 
(e) Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
11 
(f) Certificate of live birth from the PSA;
12 
(g) Transcript of Records from the state universities and colleges (SUCs) of
13 
the applicant;
14 
(h) Certificate of good moral character from the SUCs of the applicant; and
15 
(i) Other documentary requirements Issued by the government that may be
16 
required by employers from poor job applicants.
17 
The poor job applicant may avail of the privileges under this Act only
18 
once every six (6) months from each government agency.
19 
SEC- 4. Identification of Beneficiaries. — As used in this Act, a poor job
20 
applicant refers to a person who is seeking gainful employment and has no visible
21 
means of Income or whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, as
22 
identified and certified by the PSA based on the criteria set under the Community-
23 
Based Monitoring System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No, 1181B,
24 
otherwise known as the "Community-Based Monitoring System Act''
25 
Members of the households of the Pantawid Pamilyang PIlipIno Program" (4Ps) shall
26 
be automatically considered as "poor" and are eligible to avail of the privileges under
27 
this Act


1 
SEC- 5. Penalties. - (a) Any public officer or employee who refuses or falls to
2 
provide the benefit granted to the poor job applicant in violation of Section 3 of this
3 
Act shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos
4 
(P6,000,00) hut not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000,00).
5 
Prosecution for an offense set forth in this Act shall be without prejudice to any liability
6 
for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service law, rules and
7 
regulations.
8 
(b) A job applicant who misrepresents or falsifies any document to avail of benefits
9 
provided under this Act or abuses the privileges granted heroin shall be prosecuted
10 
and punished In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Act No. 3815, as
11 
amended, otherwise known as 'The Revised Penal Code", and shall suffer perpetual
12 
disqualification in availing the privileges under this Act.
13
SEC. 6. Interagency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee.
14 
-An interagency coordinating and monitoring committee, hereinafter referred to as the
15 
Committee, shall be established to coordinate and monitor the implementation of this
16 
Act.
17 
The Committee shall be composed of the following:
18 
(a) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or the authorized
19 
representative, as Chairperson;
20 
(b) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the PSA or the authorized
21 
representative, as vice Chairperson;
22 
(c) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or the
23 
authorized representative, as Member;
24 
(d) Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the authorized representative,
25 
as Member;


1 
(e) Chief of the PNP or the authorized representative, as Member;
2 
(f) Director of the NBI or the authorized representative, as Member;
3 
(g) Secretary of the DOH or the authorized representative, as Member;
4 
(h) Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Povert/ Commission (NAFC) or the
5 
authorized representative, as Member; and
6 
(i) Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
7 
The Committee shall have the following functions;
8 
(a) To coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation 21 of this Act;
9 
(b) To make recommendations for concerned agencies to ensure the effective
10 
and efficient delivery of benefits to poor job applicants under this Act; and
11 
(c) To submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of this Act.
12 
SEC.7. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.- Upon the effectivity
13 
of this Act, a Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby constituted. The
14 
Committee shall set the overall framework to review the implementation of this Act.
15 
It shall likewise determine inherent weaknesses in the law and recommend necessary
16 
remedial legislation or executive measures.
17 
The Committee shall be composed of fourteen (14) members with the Chairpersons
18 
of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the House of Representatives, and of the
19 
Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development of the Senate as Co-
20 
Chairpersons, and six (6) members from each House, to ho designated by the
21 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Die Senate President, respectively.
22 
SEC 8- Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The DOLE, in consultation
23 
with the PSA. DILG, NBI, PNP, DOJ, DOH, NAPC, and the CHED shall issue the
24 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within six
25 
(6) months after the effectivity of this Act.


1 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause, - If any provision or part of this Act is held
2 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions hereof, not otherwise
3 
affected, shall remain In full force and effect.
4 
SEC. 10. Repeating Clause, - Any law, presidential decree or Issuance,
5 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
6 
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
7 
modified accordingly.
8 
SEC. 11. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication In the
9 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.