fs GePR £ ney
Republic of the Philippines (ee ECEIVED,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES! gu 30° 30
Quezon City, Metro Manila ie 5 care

First Regular Session Gal &
<e7) SSA
House Bill No. 387

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARISSA “DEL MAR” P. MAGSINO

AN ACT
PROVIDING DISCOUNT FOR INDIGENT JOB APPLICANTS THE PAYMENT
OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATES AND
CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR EMPLOYMENT
APPLICATION

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Poverty has many faces. But one of the least talked about and perhaps most
shielded away from is the fact the what lies at the core of poverty is the truth that many
are not given proper and/or enough opportunities. Many study hard, but fail to secure
good paying jobs. Many work hard but not as much doors open for them.

In order for them to escape from the bondage of poverty, they need doors of
opportunities to open for them. But often times, the poor are thrust into the world on
their own, without much aid from the government.

Many of them have been mistaken to be deadbeat and lazy ~ without much
thought or empathy. Society fails to realize that even the first step in securing
employment costs so much - especially to the indigent. How could we thus expect them
to take that first step into the bright future that we keep harping about, if we do not
acknowledge that the step demands money that many of them do not have to begin with.

No less that Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution mandates that the State
must “free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality
life for all.” Now, this is exactly what this bill intends to do.

The government cannot idly sit by and keep boasting of employment
opportunities without realizing that it has to be at the forefront of facilitating easy access
to decent jobs. The poor are subjected to prejudices which are beyond their control.
Securing government documents which are necessary in gaining access to employment

opportunities entails costs.



The goal of this measure to reduce some of the financial burdens that aggravate
indigent job applicants in their quest of securing employment. Under the proposed bill,
indigent job applicants, whether locally or abroad, are granted a twenty percent (20%)
discount in the payment of fees and charges for the following clearances and certificates
which are required in their pre-employment application.

The discount aims to be applicable to Barangay Clearance, NBI Clearance, Police
Clearance, Medical Certificate from any government hospital, Marriage Certificate, Birth
Certificate, Transcript of Records from State Universities and Colleges, Tax
Identification Number (TIN), Certificate of Good Moral Character from State
Universities and Colleges, and other documentary requirements issued by the
government that may be required by employers from indigent job applicants.

The discount under this bill will hopefully be the window that will eventually
open more doors of opportunities for indigent job seekers who only hope to be released
from the chains of poverty through employment.

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

Lipe:| LTE camo


10
uv
12

13
14

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 367

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARISSA “DEL MAR” P. MAGSINO

AN ACT
PROVIDING DISCOUNT FOR INDIGENT JOB APPLICANTS THE PAYMENT
OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATES AND
CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR EMPLOYMENT
APPLICATION

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 “Indigent Job Applicants
Discount Act”.

See. 2. Declaration of Policy.~ It is the policy of the State to promote a just and
dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free
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.

Further, the State shall strive to promote full employment and equality of gainful
work and opportunities for its citizens. Toward this end, the state shall expand
accessibility to government services and provide acceptable discounts and incentives to

enhance indigent job seekers’ access to decent employment.

Sec. 3. Provision of Twenty Percent (20%) Discount. — Indigent job applicants,


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

whether locally or abroad, shall be granted a twenty percent (20%) discount in the
payment of fees and charges for the following clearances and certificates requisite for
pre-employment application:

a) Clearance from the barangay where the applicant resides;

b) Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBD;

¢) Clearance from the Philippine National Police (PNP);

d) Medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital
licensed by the Department of Health (DOH), and medical certificate for
foreign employment from any DOH-accredited medical facility for Filipino
overseas workers;

¢) Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);

f) Certificate of live birth from PSA;

g) Transcript of Records (TOR) from the State Universities and Colleges of the
applicant;

h) Tax Identification Number (TIN);

i) Certificate of Good Moral Character (CGMCS) from the State Universities and
Colleges of the applicant; and

j) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be 14
required by employers from indigent job applicants.

The indigent job applicant may avail of the privileges under this Act only once

every six (6) months from each government agency.

Sec. 4. Identification of Beneficiaries. - For purpose 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 falls below the official poverty threshold, as identified
and certified by thePSA based on the criteria set under the Community-Based
Monitoring System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315. The city or
municipality shall issue the certificates of indigency based on the latest CBMS data.


19
20

2
22
2B
24
25

26
7

28

Sec. 5. Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee. - An Inter-
Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee shall be established to coordinate and
monitor the implementation of this Act.

Sec. 6. Composition of the Committee. - The Committee shall be composed of the

following:

aSecretary of Labor and Employment or his authorized representative as
Chairperson;

b. National Statistician and Civil Registrar-General of the PSA or his authorized
representative, as Vice Chairperson;

c. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government or his authorized
representative as Member;

d. Secretary of Justice or his authorized representative as Member;

e. Chief of the PNP or his authorized representative as Member;

f. Director of the NBI or his authorized representative as Member;

g. Secretary of Health or his authorized representative as Member;

h. Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission or his authorized
representative as Member; and

i. Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education.

Sec. 7. Functions of the Committee. - The Committee shall have the following,
functions:

a. To coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation ofthis Act;

b. To make recommendations for concerned agencies to ensure the effective and
efficient delivery of benefit for indigent job applicants under this Act; and

c. To submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of this Act.

Sec. 8. Penalties. —

a) Any public officer or employee who refuses or fails to provide the benefit
granted to the indigent job applicant in violation of Section 3 of this Act shall, upon


20
a
22

23
24

conviction, be subjected to a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00)
but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php 20,000.00).

Prosecution for an offense set forth in this Act shall be without prejudice to any
liability for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service law, rules and
regulations.

b) A job applicant who misrepresents or falsifies any document to avail of
benefits provided under this Act or abuses the privilege granted herein shall be
prosecuted and punished in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act
No. 3185, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, and shall suffer
perpetual disqualification from availing of the privileges under this Act.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Labor and Employment, in consultation with
PSA, Department of Interior and Local Government, NBI, PNP, Department of Justice,
DOH, the National Anti-Poverty Commission, and the Commission on Higher
Education, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not

be affected and thereby remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec, 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,