HOUSE OF REPRCSCNTATIVES
RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines} are, £9 AUG 2016

House of Representatives —er—
Quezon City, Metro Manil: Tue TN
By: ev \
Seventeenth Congress

First Regular Session REGISTRATION UNIT
3339 BILLS ano Incr Y SeQ\t0E

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Victoria Isabel G. Noel

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Employment is fettered with requirements and other fees. Fresh graduates who
seek employment find it expensive thereby hindering them from getting all the
required documents and eventually losing the chance of getting hired.

This bill seeks to provide waiver of the fees collected by government for
clearances, licenses and other documents from fresh graduates who seek employment.
The waiver of these fees serves as the assistance of the government to its developing
labor force and commitment to help its youth and improve the standard of living.

This measure was approved on 3 reading in the previous Congress but did not
pass into law due to lack of material time.

VICTORIA Oem


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

332
HOUSE BILL NO. 38 .

Introduced by Representative Victoria Isabel G. Noel

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

‘TION 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 fees
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 completes 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 a 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 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 provision 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,