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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, ©205

Introduced by Representative Marissa Lourdes M. Andaya

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 11261 or the First-Time Jobseekers Act that was recently
signed into law, mandates that government fees and charges be waived in the
issuance of documents required in the application of first-time job seekers. It mostly
benefits fresh graduates and out-of-school youth.

This representation seeks to extend a similar assistance to indigent job
seekers, but in the form of discounts. This is to alleviate the difficult situation that
indigents are faced with when looking for job opportunities.

Most Filipinos cannot afford to pay for fees necessary in the procurement of
documentary requirements for their job applications 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 will encourage them to look for
jobs and give them a better chance to becoming productive members of our society.

This bill aims to lessen the financial burden of indigent Filipino job applicants.

This measure aims to give them opportunities to become self-reliant individual by
approving this measure.

—€
MARISSA LOUR' |. ANDAYA


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6105

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Marissa Lourdes M. Andaya

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 2019.”

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. Clearance from the barangay where the applicant resides;

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

c. Clearance from the Regional Philippine National Police (PNP) offices or
units;

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 overseas
workers and seafarers;

e. Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA); and

f. Certificate of live birth of the indigent job applicant and one (1) dependent
from the PSA.

The discount may be availed of by only one indigent job applicant and one
dependent per household, once a year from each government agency.

SEC. 4. Identification of Beneficiaries. — For the 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 to 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. 5. Penalties. — a) A public officer or employee, including the head of the
government agency, who refuses or fails to provide the benefits granted to the
indigent job applicant 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 (10,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos
(50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court;

b) An officer or employee, including the head of a DOH-accredited medical
facility, who refuses or fails to provide the benefits granted to the indigent job
applicant 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 (10,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos
(50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court;

©) A job applicant or a dependent who misrepresents status or falsifies any
document to avail of benefits provided under this Act or 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 (P 10,000.00), or both, at the discretion of
the court;

d) Prosecution of a public officer or employee under this Act is without
prejudice to any liability under other existing laws, civil service rules or regulations

SEC. 6. 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. Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) as
chairperson;
b. Secretary of Labor and Employment as vice chairperson;
c. Secretary of Social Welfare and Development or authorized
representative;
d. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government or authorized
representative;
.. Secretary of Justice or authorized representative;
Chief of the PNP or authorized representative;
. Secretary of Health or authorized representative; and the
|. National Statistician and Civil Registrar-General of the PSA or authorized
representative, as members.

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The Committee shall submit an annual report to Congress on the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act, the Lead Convenor of NAPC, in consultation and
coordination with the Secretaries of DOLE, DOH, DILG, DOJ, and DSWD, the
National Statistician and Civil Registrar-General of the PSA, and the Chief of PNP
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.

SEC. 8. 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. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. 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,