TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE
S. No. 174
25 jy
-7 iyO:G4
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB SEEKERS, DISCOUNTED OR WAIVED FEES AND 
CHARGES IN THE ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN PRE-EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS 
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As of April 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported an 
unemployment rate of 4.1%, with approximately 2.06 million Filipinos out of work.1 
As a commitment to help the Filipino people, policies and legislation should be enacted 
in order to support Filipinos in uplifting their quality of life through employment 
opportunities.
The process of securing employment often entails obtaining various pre­
employment documents, such as clearances, certificates, and permits. These are often 
required by employers during the hiring process. Unfortunately, the financial burden 
associated with acquiring these documents can disproportionately affect indigent job 
seekers, limiting their access to opportunities for stable employment.
Republic Act No. 11261, also known as the "First-Time Jobseekers Assistance 
Act," was enacted into law to provide support to first-time job seekers. The law 
stipulates that first-time job applicants, regardless of age or educational attainment.
1https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/labor-force-survey


shall be exempted from the payment of fees and charges in the issuance of 
government documents required for employment purposes. This law is truly 
commendable, but does not cover the needs of indigent job seekers who may not 
qualify as first-time job applicants but still require financial assistance.
Therefore, this proposed measure seeks to cover indigent job seekers and 
provide them privileges of waived or discounted fees once every six (6) months from 
each government agency. This would ensure that individuals from economically 
disadvantaged backgrounds are not excluded from employment opportunities due to 
their inability to afford the necessary pre-employment documents.
Financial constraints and the high cost of pre-employment requirements shall 
not be a hindrance to any indigent Filipino job seeker to secure a decent job in order 
to succeed in life. By providing discounted or waived fees and charges, government 
agencies can help level the playing field and promote equal opportunities for all job 
seekers, and create an equitable society where every Filipino has a fair chance to 
access meaningful employment regardless of their socioeconomic background.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1*^4
Zb
JIJL -7 A10;04
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
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AN ACT
PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB SEEKERS, DISCOUNTED OR WAIVED FEES AND 
CHARGES IN THE ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN PRE-EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS 
ISSUED BY 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 shail be known and cited as the "Indigent 
Jobseekers Assistance Act of2025."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the poiicy of the State to promote a just and 
dynamic 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 an improved quality of life 
for all. To this end, the State shall provide indigent job seekers a discount in the 
payment of fees and charges or waived fees for certain certificates and clearances 
issued by government agencies.
Sec. 3. Identification of Beneficiaries. - As used in this Act, an indigent job 
seeker 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 by 
the National Economic and Development Authority and/or cannot afford in a sustained


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manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing and 
other essential amenities of life.
The PSA, based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring 
System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315, otherwise known as the 
"Community-Based Monitoring System Act", shall validate the list of indigent 
households in the Listahanan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
identify indigent individuals. The Local Social Welfare Development Officer (LSWDO) 
of the city/municipality or any equivalent unit of the municipality where the indigent 
job seeker resides is authorized to issue a Certificate of Indigency based on the latest 
CBMS data, abovementioned criteria and established guidelines, as proof of eligibility 
of job seekers in availing the privileges provided for under this Act. Such certification 
shall be free of charge.
For purposes of identifying indigent job seekers, any other unified targeting 
system duly agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee 
may be used in the future.
An indigent job seeker whose household is enrolled under the seven-year 
period "PantawidPamilyang PiUpino Program 
, shall be automatically considered
as "indigent" and eligible to avail of the privileges under this Act.
First time job seekers who avail of waived government fees and charges in the 
issuance of pre-employment documents under Republic Act No. 11261, otherwise 
known as the "First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act" are not covered by this Act.
Sec. 4. Twenty Percent (20%) Discount on Fees and Charges for Clearances 
and Certificates. - Indigent job seekers, whether here 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 job seeker resides;
b. Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);


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c. National Police 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 overseas workers and 
seafarers;
e. Certificate of marriage from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
f. Certificate of live birth from the PSA;
g. National Certificate and Certificate of Competency (COC) from the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
h. Certificate of Civil Service Eligibility from the Civil Service Commission (CSC); 
and
i. Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be 
required by employers from indigent job seekers, as determined and approved 
by the Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee established in 
Section 6 of this Act.
The indigent job seeker may avail of the privileges of discounted fees under this 
Act only once every six (6) months from each government agency.
Sec. 5. Waiver of Fees and Charges for Pre-Employment Documents. - The fees 
and charges required to acquire the following pre-employment documents and cards 
shall be waived:
a. Tax Identification Number from the Bureau of Internal Revenue; and
b. Transcript of Records, Transfer Credentials, Authenticated Copy of Diploma, 
and Certificate of Good Moral Character from the State Universities and 
Colleges, and Local Universities and Colleges of the job seeker.
The indigent job seeker may avail of the privileges of waived fees under this Act 
only once every six (6) months from each government agency.
Sec. 6. Prohibited Acts and Penalties. -
(a) Any public officer or employee who refuses or fails to issue a Certificate of 
Indigency, or to provide the benefit granted to the indigent job seeker in


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violation of Sections 4 and 5 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be subject to a 
fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) but not more than twenty 
thousand pesos (P20,000). The penalty of temporary disqualification to hold 
public office for a period of five (5) years shall also be imposed.
(b) A job seeker 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. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the "Revised Penal 
Code", and shall suffer perpetual disqualification in availing the privileges under 
this Act.
(c) Administrative sanctions shall be imposed without prejudice to prosecution as 
provided for in this Act.
(d) 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.
Sec. 7. Indigent Job Seekers Database. - The Public Employment Service Office 
in coordination with the LSWDO shall establish and maintain a database system 
containing an updated roster of all indigent job seekers who availed of the benefits 
under this Act. The PhilJobnet platform of the Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE) shall serve as the monitoring mechanism to record, monitor, and report the 
availment of the benefits granted to indigent job seekers.
Sec. 8. Non-Authority to Charge Fees. - Other government agencies that do not 
charge fees in relation to the discharge of their functions cannot use this law to impose 
fees if no such authority is granted under their respective charter or other relevant 
laws.
Sec. 9. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within six (6) months after the 
effectivity of this Act, the DOLE shall, in consultation with the Department of the 
Interior and Local Government, Department of Migrant Workers, PSA, DSWD, PNP, 
NBI, DOH, CSC, CHED, TESDA, Leagues of Barangay, Municipalities, and Cities, NAPC


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and NCIP, promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions hereof, not otherwise affected, 
shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 11. 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. 12. 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,