HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon 'City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
—_—_s

HOUSE BILL NO. .L'°2

INTRODUCED BY REP. KARLO ALEXEI! B. NOGRALES and REP. JERICHO JONAS B.
__NOGRALES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The State must be supportive of, and provide an employment-friendly
atmosphere for fresh graduates who are seeking employment. It is a fact that by the
time a student finally graduates, family resources are already depleted due to the high
cost of tertiary education. While applying for employment, a college graduate is required
by the prospective employer to submit many documents from government such as
clearances from the police and the National Bureau of Investigation, identification card
from the Social Security System, and certification or community tax certificate from the
local government unit, among other documents. All these require payment of fees
which, when put together, becomes costly and burdensome, especially for someone
who is not yet earning. As a result, instead of helping new graduates, an oppressive
situation is created

This bill seeks to protect the interest of the youth and facilitate their access to
employment by authorizing a reasonable waiver of fees collected by government for
various clearances, licenses, and other documents from fresh graduates who are
seeking employment. The recommended waiver of fees must not be viewed as a
diminution of revenues for the government but as a means to protect the interest of our
youth. In this light, support for the enactment of this measure is earnestly requested.

KARLO ALEXEI! B. NOGRALES JERICHO JON, . NOGRALES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

no
HOUSE BILL No.L7

INTRODUCED BY REP. KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALES and REP. JERICHO JONAS B,
NOGRALES

AN ACT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO NEW GRADUATES BY WAIVING
GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES COLLECTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THEIR APPLICATION FOR
EMPLOYMENT

Be jt enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect the
interest of the youth. It shall endeavor to provide them opportunities for development by
creating policies that will improve their access to employment.

SEC. 2. Waiver of Fees and Charges, - Subject to exceptions provided in Section
4 of this Act, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-
owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and local government units (LGUs) shall
not collect fees or charges from new graduates: Provided, That such fee or charge is
paid in connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of
identification, clearances, certificates, or other documents usually required in the course
of employment: Provided, further, That the application for such license, proof of
identification, clearance, certificate, or other documents is submitted within one (1) year
after graduating from high school, college or any vocational or technical course.

SEC. 3. Proof of Graduation. - A copy of the new graduate’s diploma or a
certification from the concerned academic, vocational or technical institution that the
said graduate has successfully completed the course required must be submitted before


the waiver authorized under this Act can be availed of. The diploma or certification
should clearly state the date of graduation or completion of the degree earned, and
should be signed by the institution's duly authorized representative.

Such copy of the diploma or the certification submitted shall serve as prima facie
evidence of the fact of graduation and 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 as described in this section shall be
liable under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code

SEC. 4. 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 or an application for a Philippine
passport.

SEC. 5. 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. 6. 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
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. 7. 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. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly
SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,