EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2291
DATE
T»ME
BILLS
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE COVID-19 TESTING FOR ALL JOBSEEKERS AND 
APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The International Labour. Organization (ILO) has observed that the world of 
work is profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as it threatened not only public 
health but also economic and social sectors thereby affecting the livelihoods and well­
being of millions of people around the globe. Specifically, in its World Employment 
and Social Outlook: Trends 2021 report1, released in June 2021, the ILO found that 
the pandemic has inflicted lasting damage to the job market, with 8.8 percent of total 
working hours - the equivalent of the hours worked in one year by 255 million full­
time workers, were lost in 2020. It was likewise observed that the slower-than- 
expected vaccine rollouts and the resurgence of coronavirus variants have dampened 
the global jobs recovery forecast, with 220 million forecast to be unemployed in 
2021— above the 187-million recorded in 2019 before the coronavirus crisis struck.
In the Philippines, the latest Labor Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics 
Authority showed that the unemployment rate in April 2021 rose to 8.7 percent— 
which translates to roughly 4.14 million unemployed Filipinos. This figure is higher 
compared to the 7.1 percent reported in March 2021. A number of factors, including 
the strict community lockdowns,;’belief that no work is available, awaiting results of
1 https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/--dcomm/- 
publ/documents/publication/wcms_795453.pdf


previous job application and waiting for job recall, have driven the increasing 
unemployment rate in the country.2 While more Filipinos are looking for employment 
to augment their financial situation, some jobseekers reported that they had to incur 
additional costs for COVID-19 testing being required by the employers, which in turn 
hindered them from pursuing their application and continuing with their job search.
The government through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 
and the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) has clarified through Joint Memorandum 
Circular (JMC) No. 20-04A issued on 15 August 2020, that RT-PCR or antibody-based 
test is not recommended nor required for asymptomatic employees returning to work. 
However, said JMC does not explicitly prohibit companies in requiring jobseekers to 
submit a COVID-19 test result as part of the pre-employment process.
Further, while the PhilHealth has a free COVID-19 testing program for its 
members, the coverage, however, is only limited to at-risk individuals or groups 
including patients with severe symptoms and mild symptoms but with travel history 
or contact; health care workers; senior citizens; returning overseas Filipino workers, 
among others, as identified by the Department of Health (DOH) pursuant to 
Department Memorandum Nos. 2020-0528 issued on 29 May 2020 and 2020-0258-A 
issued on 6 July 2020.
Considering the imperative for the national government to ensure the labor 
market's recovery, there is a need for a human-centered policy that actually 
encourages people to go back to work while cognizant of many changes brought about 
by the pandemic.
U:
To realize this l^bjective, this bill seeks to provide free COVID-19 testing for all 
jobseekers. Through|this proposed measure, the government by covering the 
additional pre-emploVment costs born from COVID-19 tests, promotes the safety of 
jobseekers and ensures the sustainability of businesses and jobs in the country by
'■iti
2 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/labor-force- 
survey/title/EmpIoyment%20Situation%20in%20April%202020


subsidizing the COVID-19 testing especially for the micro, small and medium 
enterprises (MSMEs).
Through this policy, we are not only recognizing the importance of ensuring 
the safety and health of our entire workforce but we are also providing equal 
employment opportunities for younger cohorts and those who became unemployed 
during the pandemic to enter the labor market.
In view of the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2291
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE COVID-19 TESTING FOR ALL JOBSEEKERS AND 
APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembied:
1 
SECTION. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free COVID-19
2 
Testing for Jobseekers Act"
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to afford full
4 
protection to labor, promote full employment, and guarantee that no person shall be
5 
denied access to equal employment opportunities.
6 
In cognizance of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the
7 
Phiiippine economy and society and the need to adapt to the new normal, the State
8 
shall assist jobseekers, including but not limited to first-time jobseekers and displaced
9 
workers, in finding employment. By subsidizing the cost of COVID-19 testing as part
10 
of the pre-employment process, the State ensures the safety and health of our entire
11 
workforce in their respective workplaces including their customers and clients as well
12 
as the families in their abode as we continue to work on identifying and determining
13 
the carriers of the virus who show no symptoms at all, and remain to be a serious
14 
threat to our society.
15 
SEC. 3. Coronavirus Diseases-2019 (COVID-19) Free Testing For All
16 
Jobseekers. - The Department of Health (DOH), in full cooperation with the
17 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Labor and
18 
Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall provide


1 
for free and accessible COVID-19 testing for Fiiipino jobseekers nationwide: Provided,
2 
That the COVID-19 test shall not be considered as an additional mandatory
3 
requirement for employment.
4 
SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to jobseekers who are finding
5 
employment in the Philippines during the state of national emergency as declared by
6 
the President. For purposes of this Act, "jobseeker" means a Filipino citizen who
7 
satisfies any of the following criteria:
8 
(1) A young person who is finding employment for the first time;
9 
(2) An unemployed person who is actively seeking employment; and
10 
(3) A displaced worker whose employment was permanently terminated for
11 
authorized reasons or other causes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
12 
The benefits provided under this Act shall be available to all jobseekers at all
13 
phases of the job application process.
14 
SEC. 5. Testing Allocation in COVID-19 Testing Centers. - Immediately
15 
after the approval of this Act, COVID-19 Testing Centers shall allocate a percentage
16 
of their daily testing capacity specifically for the testing of jobseekers covered under
17 
this Act.
18 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall be
19 
primarily responsible in implementing the provisions of this Act. The DOH, in
20 
consultation with PhilHealth, DILG, DOLE, and DTI shall promulgate the necessary
21 
implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this
22 
Act.
23 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
24 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the funds of the Phiiippine Health
25 
Insurance Corporation. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
26 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
27 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared Invalid
28 
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in
29 
full force and effect.
30 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and
31 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
32 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


1 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its
2 
publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation and shall be
3 
in full force and effect during the period of the state of national emergency as declared
4 
by the President.
Approved,