SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLICOF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
ni '
SENATE
COMMITTEE REPORT NO. J ^  1-
'17 
DEC-6 P '1:49
Submitted by the Committees on Youth; Civil Service, Government Reorganization
and 
Professional 
Regulation; 
Ways 
and 
Means; 
and 
Finance 
on 
DEC - fi mi 
.
Re; 
Senate Bill No. 
1 6 2 9
Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 313, 343 and 1426 
Sponsor; Senator Joel Villanueva
MR. PRESIDENT:
The Committees on Youth; Civil Service, Government Reorganization and 
Professional Regulation; Ways and Means; and Finance, to which was referred 
Senate Bill No. 313, introduced by Senators Angara and Villanueva, entitled;
“AN ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVKS FOR NEW GRADUATES OF COLLEGES, 
UNIVERSITIES AND ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS OFFERING TECHNICAL- 
VOCATIONAL COURSES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘HILL OF RIGHTS 
FOR NEW GRADUATES’’


Senate Bill No. 343, introduced by Senators Poe and Ejercito, entitled:
“AN ACT
PROVIDING 
ASSISTANCE 
TO 
FRESH 
GRADUATES 
RY 
WAIVING 
GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGF:S COLLECTED IN CONNECTION WITH 
DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS I OR EMPLOYMENT"
Senate Bill No. 1426, introduced by Senator Villanueva and Binay, entitled:
“AN ACT
WAIVINC; GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES ON THE ISSUANCE OF 
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF 
FIRST-TIME JOBSEEKERS"
have considered the same and have the honor to report it back to the Senate with 
the recommendation that the attached bill. Senate Bill No. ^ 
^  ^  prepared by the
Committees, entitled:
"AN ACT
WAIVINC; (.OVERN.MENI FEES AND CHARGES ON THE ISSUANCE OF 
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF 
FIRST-TIME JOBSEEKERS"
be approved in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 313, 343 and 1426, with Senators 
Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, Maria Lourdes 
Nancy S. Binay, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Loren Legarda as authors thereof.


Respectfully submitted:
Chairpersons:
SEN.
Comm
fEL VILLANUEVA 
on Youth
SEN. ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV
Committee on Civil Service, 
Government Reorganization and 
Professional Regulation
SEN. SONNY ANGARA
Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. LORENLEGARDA-
Committee on Finance
Vice Chairpersons:
SEN. PAOLO BENIGN
Committee on Youth
AQUINO IV
SEN. CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
Committee on Finance
SEN. FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO
Committee on Civil Service 
Government Reorganization and 
Professional Regulation
SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
Committee on Finance
SEN.PANFILO M. LACSON
Committee on Finance


Members:
SEN. EMWANOEro PACQUIAO
SEN. MARIA LOURQES NANCY S. BINAY
SEN. GREGORIO B. HONASAN
SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
UEL F. ZUBIRI
SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
TJCis N. PANGILINAN
SEN. GRACE POE
SEN. RICHARD J. GORDON
SEN. RISA HONTIVEROS 
U
Ex-Officio Members:
SEN. RALPH G. RECTO
President Pro-Tem pore
SEN. VICENTE C. SOTTO III
M ajority Leader
y
:RANKLIN M. D R (L ^
y Leader
SEN. AQUILINO PIMENTEL III
President
Senate o f the Philippines 
Pasay City


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1G29
i7 
DEC-6 
P r-49
Prepared 
by 
the 
Committees 
on 
Youth; 
Civil 
Service, 
Government 
Reorganization and Professional Regulation; Ways and Means; and Finance 
with Senators Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Joseph Victor G. 
Ejercito, Maria Lourdes Nancy S, Binay, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Loren 
Legarda as authors thereof.
AN ACT
WAIVING GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES 
ON THE ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THE 
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF 
FIRST TIME JOBSEEKERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
In Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act 
Jobseekers Assistance Act of 2017."
shall be known as "First Time
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to recognize 
the role of the youth in nation building. As such, it shall promote and protect 
their rights, interests and well-being, by, among others, expanding access to 
government services to enable young people, especially first time jobseekers, 
to find employment.
SEC.3. Coverage. -  The provisions of this Act shall apply to all first time 
jobseekers, which shall include the following:
a) 
new graduates from all schools, colleges and universities, and from 
accredited institutions offering technical-vocational courses. For purposes 
of this Act, a new graduate is a Filipino who just finished a bachelor’s 
degree from any college or university, or completed a technical-vocational 
course from any accredited institution in the Philippines, as well as high- 
school graduates who have completed the K-12 program.


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b) 
an early school leaver or a person not employed or engaged in education
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or training or a student taking a leave of absence, from an institution
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offering college or tertiary education or a from a technical-vocational
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course, or any person working part-time while enrolled in an academic
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institution.
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SEC. 4. 
Waiver o f Fees and Charges. -  Government agencies and
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instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations
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(GOCCs), local government units (LGUs) and government hospitals shall not
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collect fees or charges from a first time jobseeker: Provided, That such fee or
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charge is paid in connection with the application for and the granting of licenses,
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proofs of identification, clearances, certificates, or other documents usually
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required in the course of employment locally or abroad.
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SEC. 5. Covered Documentary Requirements. -  No fees shall be
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collected from first time jobseekers for the following documents:
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(a) 
Police Clearance Certificate, subject to the restriction in Section 6;
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(b) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance;
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(c) 
Barangay Clearance;
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(d) 
Medical Certificate from public hospitals operated by the Department of
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Health and other government institutions;
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(e) Birth and/or Marriage Certificate;
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(f) 
Tax Identification Number;
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(g) 
The Unified Multi-Purpose ID card (UMID), and
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(h) 
Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be
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required by employers for first time jobseekers.
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SEC. 6. Proof o f Graduation, Leave o f Absence, or Date o f Last
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Completed Studies. -  First time jobseekers availing the benefits provided
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under this Act shall present the following proof:
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(a) 
New graduates shall submit a certified true copy of the diploma or
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certification from the concerned academic, vocational or technical
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institution that the first time jobseeker has successfully completed the
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course required or has earned academic units.
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The diploma or certification shall clearly state the date of graduation or
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completion of the degree or qualification earned and duly signed by the
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institution’s duly authorized representative.
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(b) 
Those on leave of absence, or those who are early school leavers or


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(C)
those not employed or engaged in education or training shall present a 
certification of leave of absence (LOA) or of the date of last enrolment 
from the concerned academic, vocational or technical institution.
The certification shall state clearly the units earned, the date of last 
enrolment and the reason/s for taking a leave of absence. It shall be 
signed by the institution's duly authorized representative and the school’s 
guidance counselor or similarly designated faculty member.
Those working part-time shall present a certification from their academic 
institution that they are currently enrolled in their program, and are duly 
authorized by their academic institution that they are allowed to pursue 
employment while studying.
A photocopy of the diploma or certification required under this Section 
shall serve as sufficient proof for the concerned government agency to grant 
the waiver: Provided, That the concerned government agency shall have the 
right to examine the authenticity of the document submitted, and deny the 
waiver of fees provided under this Act; Provided, That the first time jobseeker 
shall have the opportunity to prove the authenticity of the documents he 
submitted; Provided further. That any person found guilty of fabricating or 
falsifying any document required under this Section shall be liable under Article 
172 of the Revised Penal Code.
SEC. 7. One-Time Eligibility. A first time jobseeker shall only be entitled 
the benefits provided under this Act only one (1) time within one (1) year from 
the date of graduation or the leave of absence or enrolment, as indicated in the 
certification required under Section 5 of this Act.
The concerned government agencies shall maintain an annual roster of 
all individuals who have been issued documents under this Act. This roster shall 
be submitted to the 
Department of Information and Communication 
Technology, which shall compile a database of all beneficiaries of this Act. The 
database shall be accessible to all the agencies that have granted the waiver 
of fees and charges to first time jobseekers.
However, the government agencies have the discretion to grant additional 
eligibility if the first time jobseeker is able to prove application to other 
opportunities for employment through a certification by their potential employer; 
Provided, that the eligibility shall be allowed to be availed of not more than two 
(2) times.
SEC. 8. One Stop Shop. -  The Public Employment Service Office 
(PESO) in different provinces, cities and municipalities shall serve as a One 
Stop Shop for first time jobseekers to secure all documents necessary for their 
employment application. The PESO shall assist first time jobseekers in 
securing 
the 
required 
document, 
certification 
or 
clearance 
and 
in 
registering/enrolling first time jobseekers with relevant government agencies 
such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Home 
Development Mutual Corporation, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, 
among others.


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SEC. 9. Exceptions. -  The waiver of fees and charges provided under
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this Act shall not include those collected in connection with an application to
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take a professional licensure examination conducted by the Professional
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Regulation Commission (PRC), application for a Philippine passport from the
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Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), authentication and red ribbon of
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documents from the DFA, application for a Career Service Examination with
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the Civil Service Examination, and application for a driver’s license from the
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Land Transportation Authority (LTO).
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SEC. 10. 
Inter-agency Monitoring Committee. -  An inter-agency
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monitoring committee is hereby created to monitor the compliance of the
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concerned government agencies granting the waiver of fees and charges as
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provided under this Act. The Committee shall recommend to the proper
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authorities the filing of an administrative complaint against any person who
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refuses to comply with the provisions of this Act.
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The Committee shall be composed of the following agencies:
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(a) 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as chairperson;
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(b) 
Chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) or any his/her
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authorized representatives;
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(c) 
Secretary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
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(TESDA) or any his/her authorized representatives;
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(d) 
Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) or any his/her authorized
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representatives;
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(e) 
Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) or any his/her
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authorized representatives;
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(f) 
Chairman of the Commission on Fligher Education (CHED) or any his/her
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authorized representatives; and
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(g) 
Chairman of the National Youth Commission (NYC) or any his/her
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authorized representatives.
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SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - 
The CHED, in
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consultation with DOLE, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
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and other relevant stakeholders, shall issue the relevant rules and regulations
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to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall
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not be affected thereby.
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SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances,
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rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby


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repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 14. Effectivity. -  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.
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Approved,