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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City ae

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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
64

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to exempt indigents from paying any fees when they get pre-
employment certifications and clearances from government agencies.

Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Constitution states that:

“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 and provide adequate social services, promote full employment,
a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

Poverty continues to be a major problem in the Philippines despite government
efforts to reduce it. There is still a large segment of the population who cannot liberate
themselves from the bondage of poverty because of lack of employment opportunities.
While they are capable to work, the limited jobs and the quality of jobs available prevent
poor Filipinos from escaping poverty. Since it is already difficult to find a job, the
payment of certificates and clearances which are usually required by placement
agencies entails additional burden to indigents who do not even have enough money for
the subsistence.

This measure aims to lessen the financial burden on the indigents who are
seeking employment by exempting them once a year from paying any fees when
securing pre-employment certificates and clearances from government offices. This
proposal will not only extend assistance to the indigents but will also make it easier for
them to secure some of the requirements needed in applying for work. It will encourage
them to find employment so that they can be self-reliant and become productive
members of the society. This policy will serve as an effective mechanism to alleviate
poverty, ensure social justice, and improve the condition and quality of life of indigent
Filipinos

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Atel a
ANTJAONY)G. DEL ROSARIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL'NO. 64

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

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

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Indigents Pre-
Employment Privilege Act.”

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 of 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);

¢. Police clearance from the regional Philippine National Police (PNP) office
where the indigent resides;

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

e. Marriage certificate from the National Statistics Office (NSO); and

f. Authenticated birth certificate of the indigent job applicant and one
dependent from the NSO or the Office of the Local Civil Registrar.

The discount may be availed of by the indigent job applicant once a year from
each government agency. Only one indigent job applicant per household and one of his
dependents shall be entitled to the discount.

For purposes of this Act, an indigent job applicant refers to a person who is
seeking gainful employment. Further, he has no visible means of income or whose
income is insufficient to the subsistence of his 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 (P10,000.00) but not more than
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court.

‘Any person who misrepresents his 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 (P5,000.00) but not more
than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court.

Upon finding by the DSWD that a hospital, department, agency or instrumentality
of the government or a local government unit had violated any provision of this Act,
sanctions under the administrative law, civil service or other laws may be recommended
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, hereinafter 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 Social Welfare and Development, as Chairperson;

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

C) Secretary of Health or authorized representative;

D) Secretary of the Interior and Local Government or authorized representative;

E) Administrator of the National Statistics Office;

F) Chief of the PNP or authorized representative; and

G) Chief of NBI 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, PNP, NSO and NBI, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,