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House of Representatives 2 RECEIVED
Quezon City, Metro Manila 2 iy SEP 2
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS Aion
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HOUSE BILL NO. Pe)

Introduced by Representatives Dale “Along” R. Malapitan, Edward V.P.
Maceda, Eric M. Martinez, John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto and
Rolando M. Valeriano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Unemployment in the Philippines stood at 5.4% base on the September
quarter of 2019, which means that there are two million four hundred thirty
two thousand (2,432,000) Filipinos who are in need of employment
nowadays.

Unemployment delivers the unemployed to low self-esteem, depression,
and anxiety. It brings with it unhappiness, anguish and despair. With the
lost of income and the frustration in it, the person may develop negative

attitudes toward common things in life and may feel that all sense of purpose
is lost.

Yet, the most adverse effect of unemployment is that it breeds poverty.
It makes both the unemployed and the nation to suffer fiscally as it does not
only deprives the person of the means to support his and that of his family’s
basic needs, but also obliges the nation or government to deal with the lost
of income, decreased production and additional spending for social welfare
benefits.

Thus, unemployment is considered to be a serious problem which the
government must address to alleviate poverty in the country. Productive work
and/or gainful livelihood are the real long-term solutions to poverty. Thus,
the poor should be assisted in finding decent work so that they will be able to
liberate and lift themselves up from such a depressing condition.

Moreover, having a decent work is the real sustainable way to keep
oneself and one’s family from material destitution and deprivation. Finally,
productive work is one of the ways for individuals and families to achieving a
higher standard and better quality of life.

It is the intention of this proposed measure to encourage and assist the
poor to seek and secure gainful employment by providing them a Twenty
Percent (20%) discount in the payment of fees and charges for certain
clearances and certificates issued by some government agencies which are
required for pre-employment application.


By reducing some of their financial burdens in the process of finding
jobs, the poor would be more active and motivated to find work. The proposed
policy will not only benefit the poor, but also the whole economy and the
country in the long-term once the poor become gainfully employed and more
productive members of Philippine society.

‘Thus, the immediate enactment of this bill will be a contribution in
reducing the incidence of poverty in our country.

ITAN HON.EDWARD V.P. MACEDA

iC M. MARTINEZ HON. ROLANDO M. VALERIANO

HON. J “YUL SERVO” C. NIETO


House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 4829

Introduced by Rep. Dale “Along” R. Malapitan

AN ACT
PROVIDING 20% DISCOUNT FOR POOR JOB APPLICANTS IN THE
PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATES AND
CLEARANCES ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

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

Section 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Poor Job
Applicants Discount Act”.

Sec. 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 from 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. Toward this end, the State shall provide a
Twenty Percent (20%) discount for poor job applicants in the payment of fees
and charges for certain certificates and clearances issued by government
agencies.

Sec. 3. Provision of Twenty Percent (20%) Discount - Poor job applicants
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 (NBI);

(c) 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;

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

() Certificate of live birth from the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA).

‘The poor job applicant may avail of the privileges under this Act only
once every six (6) months from each government agency.


See. 4. Identification of Beneficiaries - For purpose of this Act, a poor
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, and as identified and certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) based on the criteria set-under the Community-Based Monitoring
System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315.

See. 5. Penalties —a) Any public officer or employee who refuses or fails
to provide the benefit granted to the poor job applicant in violation of Section
3 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Five
Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos
(P20,000.00).

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) Ajob 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.

See. 6. 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-A. Composition of the Committee- The Committee shall be
composed of the following:

(a) Secretary of Labor and Employment or his authorized
representative as Chairperson;

(b) National Statistician and Civil Registrar-General of the Philippine
Statistics Authority 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;

(ce) Chief of the Philippine National Police or his authorized
representative as Member;

() Director of the National Bureau of Investigation or his authorized
representative as Member;

(g) Secretary of Health or his authorized representative as Member;
and

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


See. 6-B. Functions of the Committee. - The Committee shall have the
following functions:

(a) To coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this
Act;

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

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

Sec. 7. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - Upon the effectivity
of this Act, a Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby constituted. The
Committee shall set the overall framework to review the implementation of
this Act. It shall likewise determine inherent weaknesses in the law and
recommend necessary remedial legislation or executive measures.

The Committee shall be composed of fourteen (14) members with the
chairpersons of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural
Development of the Senate as Co-Chairpersons, and six (6) members from
each House, to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and the Senate President, respectively.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE), in consultation with Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA); Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); National Bureau
of Investigation (NBI); Philippine National Police (PNP); Department of Justice
(DOJ); Department of Health (DOH); and, the National Anti-Poverty
Commission (NAPC), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act within six (6) months after the effectivity
of this Act.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause- If any provision or part of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions thereof not
otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

See. 10. 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.

See. 11. Effectivity Clause- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved.