Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no3 740

Introduced by Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In April 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that 2.06 million Filipinos were
unemployed, placing the national unemployment rate at 4.1%~a slight increase from the
previous month’s rate of 3.9%. Additionally, underemployment rose to 14.6% during the same
period, indicating that 7.09 million employed Filipinos were either seeking additional work or
working less than 40 hours a week.

‘Unemployment and underemployment have profound and far-reaching effects on individuals and
society. Beyond the immediate loss of income, they often lead to low self-esteem, depression,
anxiety, and a diminished sense of purpose. These conditions can give rise to feelings of
frustration, hopelessness, and despair.

Most critically, unemployment breeds poverty. It imposes not only economic hardship on the
individual and their family but also a fiscal burden on the State through decreased productivity,
loss of income tax revenue, and increased spending on social welfare programs. It undermines
both personal dignity and national development.

Addressing unemployment is therefore a pressing responsibility of the State. Gainful
employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities are among the most effective long-term
solutions to poverty. It is essential that the government supports poor and marginalized
individuals in their pursuit of decent work that can lift them and their families out of economic
hardship.

This proposed measure aims to support poor job seekers by granting them exemptions or
discounts on the payment of fees and charges for clearances and certificates issued by
government agencies, public schools, colleges, and universities—requirements often needed
during pre-employment application processes.

By easing these financial burdens, the measure seeks to encourage and empower the poor to
actively seek employment. In doing so, it promotes not only individual welfare but also national
progress. Gainfully employed citizens become productive contributors to the economy, which, in
turn, benefits the country as a whole.

It is worth noting that a similar bill was filed during the 19th Congress and was approved by the
House of Representatives on third and final reading. This current proposal reflects the continued
collaboration of its many authors, driven by a shared commitment to support poor job seekers in
their pursuit of dignified and meaningful work.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate consideration and passage of this bill is eamestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._3740

Introduced by Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc

AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB SEEKERS DISCOUNTED OR WAIVED FEES.
AND CHARGES IN THE ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN PRE-EMPLOYMENT
DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

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 “Kabalikat sa
Hanapbuhay Act

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote a
just and dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate
social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an
improved quality of life for all.

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 seckers a twenty percent (20%) discount in the payment of fees
and charges or waived fees for certain certificates and clearances issued by
government agencies.

SEC. 3. Identification of Beneficiaries. — As used in this Act, an
indigent job seeker refers to a person who is 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 PSA, following the criteria set under the Community-Based
Monitoring System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315,
otherwise known as the “Community-Based Monitoring System Act”, shall
validate the list of indigent households found in the Listahanan of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development identify indigent individuals.
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 CBMS data, 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.

For purposes of identifying indigent job seekers, any other unified
targeting system duly agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Coordinating and
Monitoring Committee may be used in the future.

An indigent job seeker whose household is enrolled under the seven-
year period “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps), shall be
automatically considered as “indigent” and eligible to avail of the privileges
under this Act.

First time job seekers who avail of waived government fees and charges in
the issuance of pre-employment documents under Republic Act No. 1126,
otherwise known as the “First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act” are not covered
by this Act.

SEC. 4. Twenty Percent (20%) Discount on Fees and Charges for
Clearances and Certificates. — Unless given free of charge by the issuing
agency or unit, indigent job seekers, whether here or abroad, shall be granted a
twenty percent (20%) discount in the payment of fees and charges for the
following clearances and certificates requisite for pre-employment application:

(@) Clearance from the barangay where the job seeker resides;

(b) Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);

(©) National Police Clearance from the Philippine National Police (PNP);

(@ Medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital
licensed by the Department of Health (DOH), and medical certificate for
foreign employment from any DOH-accredited medical facility for overseas
workers and seafarers;

(©) Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);

(0 Certificate of live birth from the PSA;

(g) National Certificate and Certificate of Competency (COC) from the
T

(t) Certificate of Civi
(CSC); and

()) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be
required by employers from indigent job seekers, as determined and
approved by the Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee
established in Section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 5. Waiver of Fees and Charges for Pre-Employment Documents. ~ The fees
and charges required to acquire the following pre-employment documents and
cards shall be waived:

(a) Tax Identification Number from the Bureau of Internal Revenue; and

(b) Transcript of Records, Transfer Credentials, Authenticated Copy of
Diploma, and Certificate of Good Moral Character from the State
Universities and Colleges, and Local Universities and Colleges of the job
seeker.

The indigent job secker may avail of the privileges of waived or discounted
fees under this Act only once every six (6) months from each government

agency.


SEC. 6. Prohibited Acts and Penalties. —a) Any public officer or employee
who refuses or fails to issue a Certificate of Indigency, or to provide the benefit
granted to the indigent job seeker in violation of Sections 4 and 5 of this Act
shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos
(P5,000) but not more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,000). The penalty of
temporary disqualification to hold public office for a period of five (5) years
shall also be imposed.

b) A job secker 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.

Administrative sanctions shall be imposed without prejudice to
prosecution as provided for in this Act.

Prosecution for an offense set forth in this Act shall be without prejudice
to any liability for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service
law, rules and regulations.

SEC. 7. Indigent Job Seekers Database. — The Public Employment
Service Office in coordination with the LSWDO shall establish and maintain a
database system containing an updated roster of all indigent job seekers who
availed of the benefits under this Act.

The PhilJobnet platform of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) shall serve as the monitoring mechanism to record, monitor, and report
the availment of the benefits granted to indigent job seekers.

SEC. 8. Non-Authority to Charge Fees. ~ Nothing in these sections shall
be interpreted as authorizing other government agencies to impose fees or
charges which are otherwise not allowed under their respective charter or other
relevant laws.

SEC. 9. Interagency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee, ~ An
Interagency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee, hereinafter referred to as
the Committee, shall be established to coordinate and monitor the
implementation of this Act.

The Committee shall be composed of the Secretary of the Labor and
Employment or his authorized representative, as Chairperson; Secretary of
Interior and Local Government or his authorized representative, as Vice
Chairperson; and the following as members: Secretary of Migrant Workers or
his authorized representative: National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of
the PSA or his authorized representative; Chief of the PNP or his authorized
representative; Director of the NBI or his authorized representative; Secretary of
DOH or his authorized representative; Chairperson of the Commission on Civil
Service (CSC) or authorized representative; Chairperson of the Commission
‘on Higher Education (CHED) or his authorized representative; Director-General
of TESDA or his authorized representative; Presidents of the Liga ng mga
Barangay, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and League of Cities of
the Philippines or their autho: representatives; Lead Convenor of the
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) or his authorized representative;
and Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) or
his authorized representative.



The Committee shall have the following functions:

(a) To coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Act;

(b) To make recommendations for concerned agencies to ensure the effective
and efficient delivery of services in providing the benefits for indigent
job seekers under this Act;

(©) To identify and approve other pre-employment certificates and
clearances;

(d) To invite other agencies to be members of the Committee;

(e) To review, evaluate, and amend accordingly the clearances and
certificates covered under this Act; and

(© To submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 10. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - Upon the
effectivity of this Act, a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby
constituted. The JCOC shall set the overall framework to review the
implementation of this Act. It shall likewise recommend necessary remedial
legislation, for a period not exceeding three (3) years.

The JCOC shall be composed of fourteen (14) members with the
chairpersons of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the House of
Representatives, and of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural
Development of the Senate as Co-Chairpersons, and six (6) members from each
House, to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
the Senate President, respectively.

The Secretariat of the JCOC shall be drawn from the existing personnel
of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development of the
Senate.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months
after the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE shall, in consultation with the
Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Migrant
Workers, PSA, PNP, NBI, DOH, CSC, CHED, TESDA, Leagues of Barangay,
Municipalities, and Cities, NAPC and NCIP, promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions hereof, not
otherwise affected, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.