House of Representatives

Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRES: ;
aT, PFEISTRATION ut
jlo Btls ana t SAND INoEX SERVICE
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the vital role of the youth in building a
nation. It has mandated the State to inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.

The Government Internship Program (GIP) is a major component of Executive Order
No. 139, otherwise known as the Kabataan 2000 Program. It was conceptualized to involve
the youth in public service by exposing them to government programs and projects
through the various departments and agencies. The GIP not only introduces the youth to
public service but also extends financial assistance to help them meet their financial
obligations.

The proposed Government Internship Program Act seeks to institutionalize the
implementation of the GIP. It formally sets the guidelines of the internship. It also outlines
the process of recruiting, screening and accepting GIP interns, and the terms of their
compensation.

Since the GIP also serves as a recruitment mechanism for potential public
employees, the proposed GIP Act mandates all beneficiaries to take the Civil Service
Eligibility examinations.

The bill designates the Civil Service Commission as the overall program manager
and executing institution of the GIP. The bill also creates an Oversight Committee, chaired
by the National Youth Commission, to oversee the implementation of the program.

The GIP not only contributes to the improvement of the employability of the

students but it also prepares the participants to compete in the labor market. Thus, the
approval of this bill is urged.

\LFREDO D. VARGAS II


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
15T Regular Session

1819

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM, PROVIDING FUNDS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Government Internship
Program (GIP) Act.”

Sec. 2. Principle. - The State recognizes the vital responsibility to enable the youth
to fullfil their vital role in nation-building. It is the governing principle of this Act, that the
youth be accorded opportunities through a Government Internship Program with
implementing structures to implement the program and appropriate adequate funds for its
sustained implementation.

Sec. 3.Creation of the Government Internship Program Objectives. - In order to
attain the declared policy, a “Government Internship Program” is hereby established and
hereinafter referred to as the “GIP”.

‘The objectives of the GIP are the following:

a. To provide wider training and development opportunities among the youth geared
towards acquisition and/or application of knowledge and skills;

b. To contribute in addressing the financial needs of the youth for their possible
educational needs; and

©. To involve and introduce the youth in government programs, projects and activities
and instill in them appreciation of public service and the spirit of volunteerism

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
defined:


a. “CSC” shall refer to the Civil Service Commission.

b. “GIP Certificate” refers to a certification that shall be jointly issued by the CSC, NYC
and the institution after program completion and assessment of the GIP trainee's
competencies to attest their acquired skills.

c. “GIP Graduate” refers to an intern who has completed the program services and
has undergone the full duration of the program.

d. “Intern” refers to an eligible beneficiary selected to participate in the GIP.

e. “Internship” refers to the practical learning of a job training of a GIP Trainee ina
regular institution for a period of three (3) to six (6) months, as determined by the
institution.

f£ “Institution” refers to Philippine government institutions, state universities and
colleges, local government units, or any other legal entity registered under relevant
laws that any provide a venue for internship of GIP trainees,

g. “Mentor” refers to the intern’s direct supervisor.

h. “NYC” shall refer to the National Youth Commission.

i. “Youth” shall refer to persons whose ages range from fifteen (15) to thirty (30)
years old.

Sec. 5. Internship Guidelines. - The following shall be the guidelines for the
implementation of the GIP.

a. The intern must be a Filipino age 18 to 25 years old at the time of the application
period.

b. Institutions shall provide consideration to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs),
Indigenous Peoples, and other applicants who belongs to minorities and the
marginalized.

c. Institutions shall designate an employee who will serve as GIP Desk Officer who will
oversee the implementation of GIP within the institution.

d. Internship period shall be a period of at least three (3) to six (6) months at the most
and must implemented on a year-round basis.

e. Upon entry to the internship program, interns shall be provided with a stipend
amounting to 75% of the existing rate of step 1, Salary Grade 1 of the government


salary standardization law; and shall be non-taxable. The amount of the stipend
shall be based on the trainee’s actual attendance, absences and tardiness incurred
shall be deducted therefrom in accordance with the internship. It shall be paid every
12% and 27% of the month at intervals not exceeding sixteen (16) days.

The institutions, as provided by law, and subject to budgeting, accounting and
auditing rules and regulations, shall provide additional entitlements such as

a. Transportation and meal provisions during activities that are held
outside of the day to day office trainings;

b. Compensatory time off in case of activities held during
weekends/holidays and/or beyond office hours; and

c. Incentives and rewards in acknowledgement of removable achievement
(eu punctuality, perfect attendance).

g. An intern shall be a beneficiary of the program only once. As such, the Civil Service
Commission (CSC) in coordination with the National Youth Commission (NYC), shall
create and maintain a database which shall serve as monitoring tool for all
institutions.

h. GIP shall not be considered as employment. Thus, there is no employer-employee
relationship between the beneficiary and the institutions. GIP graduates shall be
given preference in the hiring of workers in the institutions. After career coaching,
the institution shall access and determine whether a GIP graduate is ready to be
placed for contractual or regular work.

i. Interns are hired for official purposes only. Institutions are prohibited from
assigning tasks which go beyond the official duties.

j. Institutions shall conduct trainings, seminars and other developmental
interventions for the interns including, but not limited to mentoring, coaching and
performance evaluation.

k. Social protection incentives shall be provided to the interns and are encouraged for
consideration by the institutions such as accident insurance, as they may be
applicable. The process can be facilitated with either public or private insurance
entities and public insurance entities like GSIS, subject to budgetary requirements of
the institution.

Sec. 6. Mechanics of Internship. - This process must be followed on the hiring of
interns:

a. Recruitment and Acceptance of GIP Interns


i, Program Advertisement and Recruitment of Interns. - The Institutions,
through their designated GIP Desk Offices, shall ensure effective information
dissemination of the institution implementation of the GIP including the period
of applications. This may include, but not limited to the following:

1

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Promotion/recruitment of interns for GIP through institutions, websites
and other social networking sites;

Text blasts for applicable institutions;

Print advertisement
Broadcast media; and

Promotion through educational institutions in coordination with the
Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and Local
Government Units.

ii, Applications for Internship

a.

c

Walk-in applicants may submit their accomplished application forms
directly to the GIP Desk Officer.

Online applications may also be accepted through official channels of the
institution,

Applicants must not be related within 3* degree of affinity and
consanguinity to officials and employees of the institution.

iii, Screening of GIP Trainees

a.

The screening and acceptance of interns may be initiated and facilitated
by the institution at least three (3) weeks before the first day of service of
the new batch of interns.

The screening, however, may not be limited to interviews.

The institution shall provide the applicants with a uniform application
form which shall serve as basis of the screening.

No applicant must be discriminated based on his/her gender, race,
religion and economic status.

iv, Acceptance of GIP Interns. - Once the selection process is through, an Order
of Acceptance shall serve as their Appointment Paper. It shall be executed and
signed by and between the GIP Desk Officer and the intern. It shall stipulate the
Terms of Reference for the compliance of the one who shall be governed by
such document. It shall also contain that there is "No Employer-Employee
Relationship" between the beneficiary and the hiring institution given that the
program is not an employment opportunity.


b. Orientation of Interns. - The new batch of interns shall attend a general
orientation o or before their first day of training which shall be scheduled by the
GIP Desk Officer.

The orientation covers, but is not limited to the following:

Government Internship Program (GIP) rationale;
Institutional mandate and organizational structure;
Relevant office policies and procedures;

Specific institutional programs and projects;
Telephone etiquette/office decorum, and

Interpersonal relations;

Code of Conduct of Public Employees (RA 6713);

Role of Interns in the Government Volunteers Program.

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All units under the institution shall send their representatives during the GIP
Orientation to discuss programs, projects, undertakings and activities of their
respective offices.

c. Work Assignments/ Tasks of Interns. - Institution officials and staff are
considered mentors of all interns. They shall provide work assignments and
responsibilities that will enhance and enrich the experiences of the program
beneficiaries and develop their knowledge and skills.

The responsibilities assigned to them may include but are not limited to the
following:

i. Clerical/Secretarial Work (eg. typing, filing, sorting,
photocopying):

ii, Customer Service (e.g. answering telephone calls, attending to
official concerns of visitors.)

i

|. Research Work (e.g, Data gathering, survey administration. etc)
iv. Support by Staff (e.g, logistics, assistance in staff work)
d. Activity/Program Participation of Interns. - Intern shall be required to attend
and to participate in relevant in-house trainings and seminars conducted by the
institution.

These trainings/seminars include the following but are not limited to:

i. Good Citizenship
ii, Orientation on Basic Labor Rights


iii, Work Ethics and Professionalism

iv, Pre-Employment Seminar

v. Gender and Sensitivity Workshop

vi. Personality Development

vii. Youth Leadership and Empowerment
viii, Business Writing and Grammar 101
ix, Cultural Awareness Training

These training modules may be obtained from the National Youth
Commission (NYC). Each institution may choose a minimum of six (6) from the
suggested topics for its implementation. Other relevant topics may also be
included in the internal trainings and seminars for the interns

In response to the Public and Private Partnership Framework, interns
can also be tapped as delegates during activities outside of the institutional
parameters where they are hired. These may be participation in outreach
programs, film showing, volunteer works and youth engagements that are often
initiated by private groups, socio-civic associations and organizations that help
the government in reaching out to the people.

Mentoring, Coaching and Performance Evaluation. - In order to ensure that
interns are given enough mentoring, the direct supervisor and the intern shall
meet twice for the entire duration of internship.

The interns shall accomplish two (2) performance evaluation sheets and the
supervisor shall accomplish two (2) supervisor's evaluation sheets before the
graduation.

Termination of GIP Contract. - Any of the following shall be a valid cause to
terminate the training contract.

By the institution:
a. Habitual absenteeism of the intern;

b. Willful disobedience by the intern of the institution's rules, or
insubordination of a lawful order of a supervisor;

¢. Theft or malicious destruction of the institution's property by the intern;

d. Engaging in violence or other forms of misconduct in the internship or
institution's premises by the intern; and

e. Poor performance for a prolonged period despite warning duly given to the
intern.


By the intern:

a. Substandard of harmful working conditions within the institution's premises;
b. Cruel and inhumane treatment; and

c. Prolonged or continuing illness.

Either party may furnish the other party a notice of intent to terminate the GIP
contract for cause as defined in this section.

In case the GIP Contract has been terminated, replacement of an intern in an
institution shall be allowed subject to the cause of termination.

g. GIP Graduation. - The graduation day for the interns shall be conducted
preferably on the last day of the internship.

The mentoring forms used shall gauge the learnings of the interns during
their internship in the institution, It is important that the interns themselves
exhibit satisfactory, very good to excellent ratings from their supervisors during
their last mentoring session which shall also effect in the Performance Evaluation
Form. This process shall be undertaken on the 3* or last month of their service in
the institution.

The GIP Desk Officer shall likewise follow up mentors of interns with
performance evaluation rating of below three (3) by the second (2"4) month of
internship.

In order to empower them, interns shall be given the chance to plan and
organize their graduation ceremonies,

Sec. 7. - Grievance Committee. - The Grievance Committee shall have the initial
responsibility of settling differences in case any violation of the GIP Contract or upon filing
of a complaint by an aggrieved party.

The Grievance Committee shall be composed of the officials and representatives of the
institution which have jurisdiction over the internship.

The Committee shall render a decision pursuant to pertinent rules and regulations. In case
failure by the Grievance Committee to settle the issue or render a decision, or in case the
complaint is against members of the Grievance Committee, the case shall be referred to the
Civil Service Commission for appropriate action.

Sec. 8. Civil Service Eligibility. - All GIP applicants are mandated to take Civil
Service Eligibility (CSE) examinations in order to fulfil basic requirements to be able to


pursue a career in government service, should they wish to work for the government after
their internship.

Sec. 9. Program Management.

a. CSC shall be the executing institution of the GIP. It shall serve a program manager
that shall provide necessary technical and administrative assistance to concerned
institutions. The regional and field offices shall supervise and monitor the
implementation of the GIP in their respective jurisdiction. CSC shall conduct training
for GIP Desk Officers prior to the implementation of the GIP.

b. CSC shall establish a GIP Unit in the Central, Regional and Field Offices, The unit
shall provide training costs, administrative costs, or other fees, if any, as specified
under a memorandum of agreement between the CSC and the institution,

c. The Oversight Committee shall oversee the implementation of the GIP. The
Committee shall be chaired by the National Youth Commission (NYC).

The Committee shall be composed of representatives from the Civil Service
Commission (CSC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG), and representatives from the youth, employer and labor
sectors. A report shall be transmitted to both Houses of Congress through the CSC...

d. All institution shall designate a GIP Desk Officer, who shall be lodged under the
HR/Personnel Unit or any Special Unit of the institution. The GIP Desk Officer will:

i, Ensure that all processes required of the Program are met; and
ii, Provide reports to CSC as the lead institution of the GIP.

Sec. 10, Program Assessment. - To determine the necessary innovations,
improvements and rationalization needed for integration in the program, a periodic review
and assessment on the delivery of the GIP services must be undertaken by each institution.

This will also be a processing venue for all units under the institution to suggest
mechanisms to further enhance the internal processes of the program as they may apply
within their institutional parameters.

This endeavour shall be undertaken at least twice a year.

All institution should submit a report and database of their implementation of the
GIP fifteen (15) days after the end of every fiscal year.


Sec. 11. Appropriations. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the
amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (Php100,000,000.00) as funding for the program
and shall be provided to the Civil Service Commission's budget for the current fiscal year.

Further, at least one percent (1%) shall be appropriated under the Maintenance and
Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of institutions for the implementation of the GIP in their
respective jurisdictions, and shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec, 12, Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Executive Order 139, series of 1993 and all laws, decrees,
executive orders and other administrative issuances and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act, is hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved,