NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 259
^uinie
of UK fefcrrtarj’
*22 JUL11 P4:22
RUCEiVtDBV
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB APPLICANTS A 20°/o DISCOUNT IN THE 
PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATES AND 
CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II Section 9 of the Constitution provides, "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."
In 2019, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 11261 or the "First Time 
Jobseekers Assistance Act" which waived government fees and charges In the issuance 
of documents required in the application for employment of first time job hunters. It 
declared as a policy of the State the promotion of full employment and equality of 
gainful work and opportunities for its citizens.
Related to the Intent of R.A. 11261, this proposed legislation aims to assist 
indigent job applicants in securing and completing documents and certifications 
commonly asked during the pre-employment process, through provision of a twenty 
percent (20%) discount. It is hoped that prospective workers who are discouraged 
and burdened by such charges will be relieved from these expenses and eventually 
land a decent job that can uplift them out of poverty.
This bill has already been approved on Third and Final Reading by the House 
of Representatives during the Eighteenth Congress.


In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended.
3N/BONG
RAMON/BONG R EVIL LA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 259
©eiiulc
‘V/
of l!)?
‘22 JUL 11 P4:22
RIXEIVED BV.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB APPLICANTS A 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 Philippines in 
Congress assem bled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Kabaiikat sa Abot-
2 
Kamay na Pagsisimuia Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a just
4 
and dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and Independence of the nation and
5 
free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services,
6 
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an Improved quality of life
7 
for all.
8 
Further, the State shall strive for a more equitable distribution of opportunities,
9 
income and wealth; a sustained Increase in the amount of goods and services
10 
produced by the nation for the benefit of the people, and an expanding productivity
11 
to raise the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged. To this end, the State
12 
shall provide a twenty percent (20%) discount for indigent job applicants in the
13 
payment of fees and charges for certain certificates and clearances issued by
14 
government agencies.
15 
Sec. 3. Provision of Twenty Percent (20%) Discount - Indigent job applicants,
16 
whether here or abroad, shall be granted a twenty percent (20%) discount in the


1 
payment of fees and charges for the following clearances and certificates requisite for
2 
pre-employment application:
3 
a) Clearance from the barangay where the applicant resides;
4 
b) Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);
5 
c) Clearance from the Philippine National Police (PNP);
6 
d) Medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital
7 
licensed by the Department of Health (DOH);
8 
e) Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
9 
f) Certificate of live birth from the PSA;
10 
g) Transcript of Records and authenticated copy of diploma from the state
11 
universities and colleges (SUCs) of the applicant;
12 
h) Certificate of good moral character from the SUCs of the applicant;
13 
I) Certificate of Civil Service Eligibility from the Civil Service Commission (CSC);
14 
j) National Certificate (NC) and Certificate of Competency (COC) issued by the
15 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
16 
k) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be
17 
required by employers from indigent job applicants.
18 
The poor job applicant may avail of the privileges under this Act only once every
19 
six (6) months from each government agency.
20 
Sec. 4. Identification of Beneficiaries. - As used In this Act, a poor job applicant
21 
refers to a person who is seeking gainful employment and has no visible means of
22 
income or whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, as identified and
23 
certified by the PSA based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring
24 
System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315, otherwise known as the
25 
"Community-Based Monitoring System Act."
26 
Members of the households of the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pillpino Program" (4Ps)
27 
shall be automatically considered as "poor" and are eligible to avail of the privileges
28 
under this Act.
29 
Social welfare officers of the local government units and barangay officials are
30 
hereby authorized to issue certification, using the abovementioned criteria and
31 
established guidelines, for this purpose as proof of eligibility of job applicants in


1 
availing the privileges provided for under this Act. Such certification shall be free of
2 
charge.
3 
Sec. 5. Penalties. -
4 
a) Any public officer or employee who refused or falls to provide the benefit
5 
granted to the poor job applicant in violation of Section 3 of this Act shall, upon
6 
conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but
7 
not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00).
8 
Prosecution for an offense set forth in this Act, shall be without prejudice to
9 
any liability for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service law, rules
10 
and regulations.
11 
b) A job applicant who misrepresents or falsified any document to avail of
12 
benefits provided under this Act or abuses the privileges granted herein shall be
13 
prosecuted and punished in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Act No. 3815,
14 
as amended, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal Code", and shall suffer perpetual
15 
disqualification In availing the privileges under this Act.
16 
Sec. 6. Interagency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee. - An interagency
17 
coordinating and monitoring committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee,
18 
shall be established to coordinate and monitor the Implementation of this Act.
19 
The Committee shall be composed of the following:
20 
a) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or the
21 
authorized representative, as Chairperson;
22 
b) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the PSA or the authorized
23 
representative, as Vice Chairperson;
24 
c) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
25 
or the authorized representative, as Member;
26 
d) Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the authorized
27 
representative, as Member;
28 
e) Chief of the PNP or the authorized representative, as Member;
29 
f) Director of the NBI or the authorized representative, as Member;
30 
g) Secretary of the DOH or the authorized representative, as Member;
31 
h) Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) or the
32 
authorized representative, as Member;


1 
j) Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
2 
The Committee shall have the following functions:
3 
a) To coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of this Act;
4 
b) To make recommendations for concerned agencies to ensure the effective
5 
and efficient delivery of benefits to poor job applicants under this Act.
6 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOLE, in consultation with
7 
the PSA, DILG, NBI, PNP, DOJ, DOH, NAPC, and the CHED, shall issue the necessary
8 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within six (6) months
9 
after the effectivity of this Act.
10 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
11 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
12 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
13 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
14 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
15 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
16 
accordingly.
17 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
18 
publication In the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,