MANILA — The House of Representatives on Monday gave the final nod on a measure that seeks to aid indigent jobseekers in their pursuit of gainful employment by granting them discounted or waived fees on pre-employment requirements such as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and police clearances.
With an overwhelming 270 votes, the House members approved on the third and final reading House Bill (HB) No. 8008 or the “Kabalikat sa Hanapbuhay Act,” which seeks to provide either a 20% discount on fees or a completely waived payment
on employment documents issued by government agencies for qualified indigent job hunters.
“The first big hurdle for indigent job seekers is the payment of fees for their employment requirements. If the government cannot aid them in hurdling the first obstacle to gainful employment, then I see a failure in public service,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
“It is within the government’s power to reduce or waive these fees to give our indigent citizens a head start in landing a job, given that these documentary employment requirements are issued by government agencies themselves. It is my belief that doing this will greatly help many of our citizens,” he added.
Some principal authors of the measure are Reps. Mikee Romero, Oscar G. Malapitan, Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino, Lani Mercado Revilla, Gus Tambunting, Marcelino Libanan, Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, and others.
Under HB 8008, a 20% discount is granted to qualified indigent job seekers applying for the following documentary requirements:
- Barangay Clearance.
- NBI Clearance.
- Police Clearance.
- Medical Certificate from any government hospital.
- Medical Certificate for foreign employment from any DOH-accredited
medical facility for overseas workers and seafarers. - Marriage Certificate from the PSA.
- Birth Certificate from the PSA.
- National Certificate and Certificate of Competency (COC) from TESDA.
- Certificate of Civil Service Eligibility from the CSC.
- 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 this Act.
Section 5 of the measure waives the fees and charges for the following pre-employment documents and cards:
- Tax Identification Number from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
- 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 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 … Such certification shall be free of charge,” the bill continued.
Furthermore, an indigent job seeker whose household is enrolled under the seven-year period “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),” shall be automatically considered an “indigent” and eligible to avail of the privileges mandated.
(Amado Inigo/MTVN)
