NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 47
INDEX
BILLS
Introduced by SENATOR 3INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB APPLICANTS A TWENTY PERCENT (20%) 
DISCOUNT IN THE PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN 
CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution provides under Article II Section 9 that, "The State shall 
promote a just and dynamic social 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."
However, securing a decent job is not always easy and affordable. After 
surpassing stiff competition among limited job opportunities, numerous documents 
are often required from the qualified candidates prior to their employment. To be able 
to comply with the said requirements, the candidates have to visit or contact various 
government agencies and pay for the processing and issuance of the required 
documents.
These requirements prove costly especially to first time job seekers who are 
just about to start their career, as well as to indigent applicants whose current 
earnings, if any, is barely sufficient to address their daily basic needs.


In 2019, a law was passed to address this concern anaong first time jobseekers. 
Republic Act No. 11261, otherwise known as the "First Time Jobseekers Assistance 
Act" was signed into law on April 10, 2019 to expand the accessibility of government 
services to first time job seekers by waiving government fees and charges in the 
issuance of documents required in the application for employment.
On the other hand, no law was passed to cater to similar concerns of job 
applicants who belong to indigent families. In this light," The Indigent Job Applicants 
Discount Act" seeks to provide twenty percent (20%) discount for indigent job 
applicants in the payment of fees and charges for certain government-issued 
documents that are required for their employment. Qualified beneficiaries of the 
proposed bill is based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring 
System (CBMS) established under Republic Act No. 11315 or the "Community-Based 
Monitoring System Act." Members of the"Pantawid Pamllyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps) 
are also automatically considered as "poor" and are eligible beneficiaries of the 
proposed bill.
This measure was approved on Third and Final Reading by the House of 
Representatives during the 18th Congress.
In view of the foregoing, the Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
E3ERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
DATE:
SENATE
S. No.
BSLLS & IMDEX
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB APPLICANTS A TWENTY PERCENT (20%) 
DISCOUNT IN THE PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN 
CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "'Indigent Job Applicants
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Discount Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a just
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and dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and
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free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services,
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promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life
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for all.
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Further, the State shall strive for a more equitable distribution of opportunities,
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Income and wealth; a sustained increase In the amount of goods and services
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produced by the nation for the benefit of the people, and an expanding productivity
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to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged. To this end, the
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State shall provide a twenty percent (20%) discount for indigent job applicants in the
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payment of fees and charges for certain certificates and clearances Issued by
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government agencies.
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Sec. 3. Provision of Twenty Percent (20%) Discount. - Indigent job applicants,
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whether here or abroad, shall be granted a twenty percent (20%) discount in the


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payment of fees and charges for the following clearances and certificates requisite for
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pre-employment application:
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a) Clearance from the barangay where the applicant resides;
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b) Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
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c) Clearance from the Philippine National Police (PNP);
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d) Medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital
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licensed by the Department of Health (DOH);
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e) Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
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f) Certificate of live birth from the PSA;
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g) Transcript of Records and authenticated copy of diploma from the state
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universities and colleges (SUCs) of the applicant;
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h) Certificate of good moral character from the SUCs of the applicant;
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i) Certificate of Civil Service Eligibility from the Civil Service Commission (CSC);
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j) National Certificate (NC) and Certificate of Competency (COC) issued by the
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Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
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k) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be
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required by employers from Indigent job applicants.
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The poor job applicant may avail of the privileges under this Act only once every
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six (6) months from each government agency.
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Sec. 4. Identification of Beneficiaries. - As used in this Act, a poor job applicant
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refers to a person who is seeking gainful employment and has no visible means of
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income or whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, as identified and
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certified by the PSA based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring
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System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315, otherwise known as the
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"Community-Based Monitoring System Act."
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Members of the households of the "Pantawld Pamllyang Pillpino Program" (4Ps)
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shall be automatically considered as "poor" and are eligible to avail of the privileges
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under this Act.
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Social welfare officers of the local government units and barangay officials are
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hereby authorized to issue certification, using the abovementioned criteria and
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established guidelines, for this purpose as proof of eligibility of job applicants in


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availing the privileges provided for under this Act. Such certification shall be free of 
charge.
Sec. 5. Penalties. -
a) Any public officer or employee who refused or fails to provide the benefit 
granted to the poor job applicant in violation of Section 3 of this Act shall, upon 
conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but 
not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00).
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.
b) A job applicant who misrepresents or falsified any document to avail of 
benefits provided under this Act or abuses the privileges granted herein shall be 
prosecuted and punished in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Act No. 3815, 
as amended, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal Code", and shall suffer perpetual 
disqualification In availing the privileges under this Act.
Sec. 6. 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 following:
a) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or the 
authorized representative, as Chairperson;
b) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the PSA or the authorized 
representative, as Vice Chairperson;
c) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
or the authorized representative, as Member;
d) Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the authorized 
representative, as Member;
e) Chief of the PNP or the authorized representative, as Member;
f) Director of the NBI or the authorized representative, as Member;
g) Secretary of the DOH or the authorized representative, as Member;
h) Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) or the 
authorized representative, as Member;


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i) Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
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The Committee shall have the following functions:
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a) To coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of this Act;
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b) To make recommendations for concerned agencies to ensure the effective
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and efficient delivery of benefits to poor job applicants under this Act.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The DOLE, in consultation with
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the PSA, DILG, NBI, PNP, DOJ, DOH, NAPC, and the CHED, shall issue the necessary
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within six (6) months
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after the effectivity of this Act. 
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held Invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or Issuance, executive
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order, letter of Instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Efiectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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