REPUBLIC OF TIIE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City
HOUSE 0F REPRESEINTATIVES
First Regular Session
'\  .-   ®   `
H.B No,
Introduced by Representative CAMILLE A. VILLAR
AP\' ACT
PROVIDING FRESH GRADUATES OF PHILIPPINE TERTIARY EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITIES, COLLHGES AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, OF A ONE-TIME
CASH GRANT 0F FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 5,000.00) WIIICH THEY CAN
UTILIZE FOR  JOB APPLICATION, INITIAL EMPLOYMENT AND SETTLING-IN
EXPIANATOHy NOTE
There  are  no  official  government  figures  yet  as  to  how many  students  graduated  from
college for the school year 2021-2022.   In a news report,   locked-down Filipino college graduates
face gloomy COVID-191abor market.  Accordingly,  in 2022,  more than 1.6 million students will
graduate  from  200  state-run  higher education  institutions  nationwide,  according to  government
media and that it will further worsen the country's job situation. I
It  is  this  dilemma that  a  young person,  fresh  out  of college  and  desirous  of a decent
means of livelihood, finds himself at a loss on how to fund for histher employment application
prospects   --- the continuously increasing transportation fare and the difficulty of commuting,
preparing a decent work wear, printing tons of biodata or curriculum vitae, and other expenses
needed  when  one  applies  for  a job  and  consider  further  when  one  has  been  admitted,    the
preliminary expenses representing settling-in money before one receives histher paycheck.   The
situation  is 'somewhat  oppressive,  considering  that  these  fresh  graduates  are  usually  seeking
employment precisely to obtain a regular income for the first time and that by the time  a student
graduates, the family resources are often already severely depleted because of the high costs of a
tertiary education.
In  the existing law, Republic Act 11261  or the "First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act,"
government  agencies  are  barred  from  collecting  fees  or  charges  from  a  first-time job  seeker
I Businessworld, June 23. 2022


provided that the fee is in connection with the application of certificates or documents that are
usually required in seeking employment. The said benefit may only be availed once.
This bill seeks to compliment and help fresh graduates by giving them a one-time cash
grant in the amount of Php 5,000.00 which they can use as productivity/earnest fund which they
can use during application for employment,   transportation and settling-in amount, if they get a
job soonest.
While some would label the grant as means of a dole-out, the higher purpose is actually
investment in the emerging labor foree which is for the best interest of the State. Similarly, it is
an aegis of a caring government to provide relief and an expression of the principle of "Parens
Patriae"  ---    to  show the  State's  commitment to  promote  the  highest  interest  of the  Filipino
youth.
For these reasons, the urgent passage of this of this bill is earnestly sought.
cAmftc4cndfo
CAMILLE A. VILLAR


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
First Regular Session
-  -   1  '.
H.B No.
Introduced by Representative CAMILLE A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FRESH GRADUATES 0F PHILIPPINE TERTIARY EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, OF A ONE-TIM]E
CASH GRANT 0F FIVH THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 5,000.00) WHICH THEY CAN
UTILIZE FOR  JOB APPLICATION, INITIAL EMPLOYMENT AND SHTTLING-IN
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  Of  Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
Section  I. Short Title. This Act shall be known as "Fresh Graduates Php 5,000 0ne-
Time Cash Grant Act of 2021 "
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the
youth. It shall endeavor to provide them opportunities for development by Creating policies that
improve access to employment.   The State in this regard in addition to the various waivers of
payment under Republic Act No.11261,  shall extend a productivity cash grant in the amount of
five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.) which the Fresh Graduates can use for the initial expenses of
his employment application and job settling-in.
Section 3. Cash Grant to Fresh Graduates.  In addition to the privileges and waiver
of fees specified under Republic Act 11261 or the "First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act",  all
Fresh  Filipino  Graduates  Philippine  Tertiary  Institution,  Universities,  Colleges  and  Training
Institution shall receive the amount of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00 productivity cash grant
which he/she can use for the initial expenses of histher exployment application and job settling-
in.
Section 4. Proof of Graduation. To avail of the cash grant authorized in   this Act, a
citizen  must  submit  to  the  government  agency  or  instrumentality  or  local  government  unit
concerned  a copy  of his  or her diploma,  certification,  document  or communication from the


academic,  vocational  or technical  institution from which he or she  has  graduated,  written  or
issued to the effect that such person has indeed successfully completed the course required. The
diploma, certification, document, or communication should clearly state the date of graduation or
completion and the course completed or degree earned, and should be signed by the institution's
duly authorized representative.
Section 6. The  Creation of An Inter-Ageney Monitoring Committee. An inter-agency
monitoring  committee  (IAMC)  is  hereby  created  to  be  headed  by  the  Chairperson  of the
Commission  on  Higher  Education  and  in  cooperation  with  the  the  heads  of  the  relevant
departments as its members.
The  IAMC's  function is to  formulate the  implementing rules and regulations  that will
supplement the implementation of this Act and to monitor the compliance to this Act by the
various government agencies and instrunentalities within its scope.  It may recommend to the
proper authorities the filing of an administrative complaint against any person who refuses to
comply with the provisions of this Act.
Section 7.   Appropriations.   The fund needed to implement this Act shall be coursed
thin the Commission on Higher Education, at such amount that may be determined by Congress
after consulting with different stakeholders including the student sectors and the academia.
Section 8. Repealing clause. All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modifled accordingly.
Section 9. Separability clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.
Section 10. Effectivity. This shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,