MAISABATAS SANA ITO: BILL GRANTING 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT TO INDIGENT JOBSEEKERS PUSHED IN SENATE

By Liza Soriano

SENATOR Lito Lapid has filed a bill that would grant 20 percent discounts for indigent job applicants in the payment of fees and charges for certain certificates and clearances issued by government agencies for employment applications.

Lapid filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2382, or “Indigent Job Applicants Discount Act.”

“Nais po nating bigyan ng patas na oportunidad ang ating mga naghihikahos na kababayan na madaling makahanap ng trabaho. Pero hindi mangyayari ito kung papasanin pa nila ang nagtataasang singil ng mga ahensya ng ating pamahalaan bilang bayad sa mga certificates, clearances at iba pa,” Lapid said.

“Kaya hinihiling ko sa aking mga kasamahan dito sa Senado na madaliin na natin ang pagpasa ng panukalang SBN 2382,” he added.

The senator said labor opportunities are seen to be one of the prospective windows that can help improve the well-being of indigent citizens and their family’s quality of life.

Qualified beneficiaries include those whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, and as identified and certified by the Philippine PSA based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) as established under Republic Act No. 11315, according to the bill.

On August 21, 2022, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also refiled a bill granting a 20% discount on fees charged to indigent job applicants for government-issued pre-employment documents has been refiled in the Senate. 

“For the poor Filipinos who are trying to support themselves and their families, the fees on the documents they need to submit are heavy,” Estrada was quoted as saying then after refiling the bill.

“The little they can spend on a daily basis is being reduced further by clearances and certificates.” 

Senate Bill 47 or the Indigent Job Applicants Discount Act aims to give poor job seekers assistance by reducing pre-employment costs as they try to find a source of livelihood within the country Philippines or abroad.

The measure will cover clearances issued by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, certificates of marriage and certificates of live birth from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and transcripts of records and authenticated copies of diplomas from state universities and colleges.

(ai/mnm)