Fresh Graduate Php5,000 One-time Cash Grant Act of 2025

TWEENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -9 P5:15 SENATE S. No. - Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR AN ACT PROVIDING FRESH GRADUATES OF PHILIPPINE TERTIARY EDUCATION, UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, OF A ONE-TIME CASH GRANT OF FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP5,000.00) WHICH THEY CAN UTILIZE FOR JOB APPLICATION, INITIAL EMPLOYMENT AND SETTLING-IN EXPLANATORY NOTE Each year, hundreds of thousands of Filipino students graduate from tertiary education, ready to enter the workforce and contribute to the nation's economy. However, transitioning from school to employment remains a major hurdie, especially in the face of inflation, rising transportation and living costs, and unstable job prospects. It is this dilemma that a young person, fresh out of college and desirous of a decent means of livelihood, finds himself at a loss on how to fund for his/her employment application prospects - the continuously increasing transportation fare and the difficulty of commuting, preparing a decent work wear, printing tons of biodata or curriculum vitae, and other expenses needed when one applies for a job. Further, when one has been employed, the preliminary expenses representing settling-in money before one receives his/her paycheck are considerable. The situation is somewhat oppressive, considering that these fresh graduates are usually seeking employment precisely to obtain a regular income for the first time and that by the

time a student graduates, the family resources are often already severely depleted because of the high costs of a tertiary education. In the existing law, Republic Act 11261 or the "First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act," government agencies are barred from collecting fees or charges from a first-time job seeker provided that the fee is in connection with the application of certificates or documents that are usually required in seeking employment. The said benefit may only be availed once. This bill seeks to compliment and help fresh graduates by giving them a one- time cash grant in the amount of PhP5,000.00 as earnest fund which they can use during application for employment, transportation and settling-in amount, if they get a job soonest. While some would label the grant as means of a dole-out, the higher purpose is an investment in the emerging labor force which is for the best interest of the State. Similarly, it is a mark of a caring government to provide relief and an expression of the principle of "Parens Patriae"— to show the State's commitment to promote the highest interest of the Filipino youth. For these reasons, the urgent passage of this of this bill is earnestly sought. Camelacruera CAMILLE VILLAR

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -9 P5:15 SENATE ---- S. No. _ Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR AN ACT PROVIDING FRESH GRADUATES OF THE PHILIPPINE TERTIARY EDUCATION, UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND TRAINING INSTITUTION, OF A ONE-TIME CASH GRANT OF FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP5,000.00) WHICH THEY CAN UTILIZE FOR JOB APPLICATION, INITIAL EMPLOYMENT AND SETTLING-IN Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1, Short Title. This Act shall be known as "Fresh Graduates PhP5,000

One-Time Cash Grant Act of 2025".

Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to protect the interest

5 of the youth. It shall endeavor to provide them opportunities for development by creating policies that improve access to employment.

Sec 3. Cash Grant to Fresh Graduates. In addition to the privileges and waiver

of fees specified under Republic Act 11261 or the "First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act," all fresh Filipino graduates from Philippine tertiary institutions, universities, colleges and training institutions shall receive the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) productivity cash grant which they can use for the initial expenses of their employment application and job settling-in.

Sec 4. Proof of Graduation. To avail of the cash grant authorized in this Act, a

2 graduate must submit to the government agency or instrumentality or local government unit concerned a copy of his or her diploma, certification, document or 4 communication from the academic, vocational or technical institution from which he 5 or she has graduated, written or issued to the effect that such person has indeed successfully completed the course required. The diploma, certification, document, or 7 communication should clearly state the date of graduation or completion and the course completed or degree earned and should be signed by the institution's duly authorized representative.

Sec 6. The Creation of An Inter-Agency Monitoring Committee. An inter-agency

monitoring committee (IAMC) is hereby created to be headed by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education and in cooperation with the heads of the relevant departments as its members. The IAMC's function is to formulate the implementing rules and regulations that will supplement the implementation of this Act and to monitor the compliance to this Act by the various government agencies and instrumentalities within its scope. It may recommend to the proper authorities the filing of an administrative complaint against any person who refuses to comply with the provisions of this Act.

Sec 7. Appropriations. The fund needed to implement this Act shall be coursed

thru the Commission on Higher Education, at such amount that may be determined by Congress after consulting with different stakeholders including the student sectors and the academia.

Sec 8. Repealing clause. All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and

regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec 9. Separability cause. If any provision of this Act is declared

2 unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

Sec 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,