Indigent Jobseekers Assistance Act of 2025

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -7 MD:04 SENATE S. No. 174 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, Ihttps://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 25 JUL -7 910:04 SENATE S. No. 1'74 Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go PROVIDING INDIGENT JOB SEEKERS, DISCOUNTED OR WATVED 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 shall be known and cited as the "Indigent

2 Jobseekers Assistance Act of 2025."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a just and

5 dynamic order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free 6 the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, 7 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 14 of income or whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, as identified by 15 the National Economic and Development Authority and/or cannot afford in a sustained

1 manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing and 2 other essential amenities of life. The PSA, based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring 5 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 "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)", 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);

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

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. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - 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

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,