Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5717

House Bill Number

Introduced by Representative ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the State's obligation to empower its citizens. With a binding social contract
to alleviate poverty, it is imperative that the State adopt policies that will improve the
general well being of its citizens, particularly those who are economically
disadvantaged. Increasing employment opportunities and labor productivity are
measures that will surely reduce the brunt of economic inequality on indigent Filipinos.

The sad truth, however, is that we lack employment opportunities. And even
when prospects for employment are present, most Filipinos cannot afford to pay for fees
necessary to procure documentary requirements for their job application such as birth
and marriage certificates, barangay certificate, and NBI and police clearances, among
others.

The least that the government can do for indigent job applicants is to make it
easier for them to acquire pre-employment documents by way of discounts. Reducing
the processing fee of these documents encourages them to look for jobs in order to
become productive members of society.

This bill aims to lessen the financial burden of indigent Filipino job applicants.
Let us give them opportunities to become self-reliant by approving this measure.

ROL: G. ANDAYA, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill Number S717

Introduced by Representative ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

AN ACT PROVIDING PRE-EMPLOYMENT PRIVILEGE TO INDIGENTS BY
GRANTING DISCOUNT ON FEES IN SECURING PRE-EMPLOYMENT
CERTIFICATIONS AND CLEARANCES FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

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 the “Indigents Pre-
Employment Privilege Act of 2015.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to 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 improved quality life for all.
Towards this end, the State shall grant indigent job applicants a discount on fees when
they secure pre-employment certificates and clearances from government agencies.

SEC. 3. Indigent Pre-employment Privilege. — An indigent job applicant shall
be entitled to a twenty percent (20%) discount on fees charged by government agencies
in processing the following documents for employment purposes:

a. Barangay Clearance;

b. Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);

c. Clearance from the Regional Philippine National Police (PNP) Office where
the indigent applicant resides;


d. Medical certificate from the Department of Health (DOH);

. Certificates of Marriage and/or Birth from the National Statistics Office (NSO)
or the Local Civil Registry (LCR); and

f. Certificate of Birth of the indigent applicant's one (1) dependent from the NSO
or LCR

For purposes of this Act, an indigent job applicant refers to a person who is
seeking gainful employment and has no visible means of income or whose income is
insufficient for the subsistence of the applicant's family, as identified and certified by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) based on the criteria set under
the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR)

SEC. 4. Penalties. - Any person, government entity, agency or hospital who
refuses or fails to provide the benefits granted to the indigent in violation of this Act shall
suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than one
(1) year or a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00) but not more than
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court.

Any person who misinterprets his/her status or falsifies any document to avail of
benefits provided under this Act or any person who abuses the privilege granted herein
shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than
‘one (1) year or a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (5,000.00) but not more
than Ten Thousand Pesos (10,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court.

Any government agency, instrumentality or local government unit that violates
any provision of this Act shall be held administratively liable by the DSWD. The DSWD
may recommend sanctions to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) or the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) against the head of the agency or the local chief
executive and the person directly responsible for the violation.

SEC. 5. Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee. — An inter-agency
coordinating and monitoring committee, herein after 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 DSWD, as Chairperson;

b. Chairperson of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), as Vice-
Chairperson;

. Secretary of DOH or authorized representative;

d. Secretary of DILG or authorized representative;

9


e. Secretary of the Department of Justice or authorized representative.
f. Administrator of the NSO or authorized representative;

The Committee shall submit a regular report to Congress on the implementation
of this Act every three (3) years following its effectivity.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from
the approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation and coordination with NAPC, DOH,
DILG, DOJ, and NSO, shall issue necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,