SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1 4 2 6
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*17 MAY-2 P2 51
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
WAIVING GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES ON THE 
ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THE 
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF 
FIRST-TIME JOBSEEKERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Hundreds of thousands of new graduates from high school, technical- 
vocational courses and college apply for jobs every year. Joining them are 
early school leavers or dropouts and students who took a “leave of absence” 
due to financial constraints. These young people are determined to land their 
first jobs here in the country or abroad as overseas contract workers.
However, first-time jobseekers face serious challenges especially in the 
production of pre-employment documents which include clearances from the 
Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), birth certificate from the 
National Statistics Office (NSO), Tax Identification Number from the Bureau of 
Internal Revenue (BIR), Community Tax Certificate, among others.
The fees and charges collected by various government agencies for the 
issuance of the aforesaid documents add to first-time jobseekers’ burden 
most especially those who come from lower and middle-income families. For 
students who were forced to take a leave of absence because of their fragile 
socio-economic situation, the cost is particularly burdensome.
Young people who either finished their schooling or dropped out and 
have struggled to immediately secure the required documents for employment 
could feel a loss of motivation to join the labor force. The delay in securing the


much-needed pre-employment documents prolong “waiting time” for fresh 
graduates, which is usually six months to one year1, to land into a job. Of 
course, long-term joblessness could also result into skill depreciation and 
lower confidence to face the world of work.
Hence, this bill seeks to ease the challenges faced by first-time 
jobseekers by waiving fees and charges collected by various government 
agencies for the issuance of documents needed for employment. Exempting 
new graduates and most especially, early school leavers and dropouts from 
fees and charges on mandated pre-employment documents will surely lessen 
their economic woes, minimize the risk of being unemployed in the long-term, 
and maintain their motivation to actively pursue employment. The waiver of 
fees and charges will also serve as an effective “activation strategy” to 
connect first-time jobseekers to job opportunities in the country.
The passage of this bill is to the best interest of the youth and to the 
country’s workforce.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
1 Based on the impact evaluation surveys of the Technical l-ducation and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA)


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
1426
S. B. NO.
Senate
ol il)C Sfcr.'tnri»
*17 
HAY- 2  
P 2 S 1
RECEIVED BY;.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
WAIVING GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES ON THE 
ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THE 
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF 
FIRST-TIME JOBSEEKERS
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as "First-Time Jobseekers 
Assistance Act of 2017”.
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to protect the
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interest of young people. Hence, the government has the duty to expand
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access to government services to enable young people, especially first-time
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jobseekers, to find employment.
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SEC. 3. Waiver of Fees and Charges. -  All 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, who can be a fresh
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graduate, an early school leaver, a dropout or a student taking a leave of
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absence: Provided, That such fee or charge is paid in connection with the
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application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of identification,
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clearances, certificates, or other documents usually required in the course of
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employment locally or abroad: Provided, further. That the application for such
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license, proof of identification, clearance, certificate, or other documents is
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submitted within one (1) year after graduating or taking a leave from high
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school, college or any technical vocational course in any mode/s of learning.


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SEC. 4. Covered Documentary Requirements. -  The fees and charges 
collected for the issuance of the following documents which shall be used 
solely for employment purposes of first-time jobseekers shall be waived;
(a) Police Clearance Certificate:
(b) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance;
(c) Barangay Clearance;
(d) Medical Certificate;
(e) Birth and/or Marriage Certificate;
(f) Tax Identification Number;
(g) Community Tax Certificate;
(h) Certification of Eligibility;
(i) Authentication and Red Ribbon of documents; and
(j) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may 
be required by employers for first time jobseekers.
SEC. 5. Proof of Graduation or Leave of Absence. -  Before the waiver 
authorized under this Act can be availed of, a certified true copy of the first 
time jobseeker’s diploma, certification or leave of absence (LOA) from the 
concerned academic, vocational or technical institution that the said individual 
has successfully completed the course required or has earned academic units 
must be submitted by the applicant.
The diploma or certification should clearly state the date of graduation or 
completion of the degree or qualification earned and should be signed by the 
institution’s duly authorized representative. Likewise, the leave of absence 
(LOA) should state clearly the units earned and the reason/s for taking a leave 
of absence and should be signed by the institution’s duly authorized 
representative and the school’s Guidance Counselor.
Such copy of the diploma, the certification, or the leave of absence submitted 
shall be sufficient for the government agency concerned to grant the waiver: 
Provided, That any person found to be guilty of fabricating or falsifying any 
proof of graduation or leave of absence as described in this section shall be 
liable under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.
SEC. 6. Roie of PESO. -  The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) 
shall assist first-time jobseekers, especially those who experience difficulty in 
securing their proof of graduation or their leave of absence.
SEC. 7. Exceptions. -  The fees and charges to be waived shall not include 
those collected in connection with an application to take a professional 
licensure examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission 
(PRC), application for a Philippine passport from the Department of Foreign 
Affairs (DFA), application for a Career Service Examination, and application


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for a driver’s license from the Land Transportation Authority (LTO).
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SEC. 8. Administrative Offenses - No government agency or instrumentality 
shall issue unduly restrictive regulations, which will render nugatory the 
benefit of the waiver as prescribed under this Act. Such shall constitute an 
administrative offense punishable under the Administrative Code and other 
pertinent laws.
SEC. 9. Interagency Monitoring Committee. -  An interagency monitoring 
committee is hereby created with the Executive Secretary as Chairperson, 
and the heads of the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Labor and 
Employment, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the 
Department of Finance, the Department of Education, the Commission on 
Higher Education and other departments whose participation the committee 
may deem necessary as its members.
The committee shall monitor the compliance of the concerned government 
agencies and instrumentalities, and may recommend to the proper authorities 
the filing of an administrative complaint against any person who refuses to 
comply with the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall 
not be affected thereby.
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly.
SEC. 12. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,