Senator Sonny Angara is pushing for the passage of a bill that seeks to grant benefits and incentives to new graduates to help them land a job.
Senate Bill 1629 provides that new graduates and first time jobseekers will no longer need to pay government fees and charges on the issuance of documents required in job applications.
“Layunin nitong gawing libre ang pagkuha ng mga dokumento na kailangan sa paghahanap ng trabaho. Ito ay para mas mapagaan at mas mapadali ang proseso ng pag-aapply,” said Angara, principal author of the bill and the vice chairman of the Senate labor committee.
Under the proposed measure, no fees shall be collected for the following documents: police clearance certificate, NBI clearance, barangay clearance, medical certificate from public hospitals, birth and marriage certificate, tax identification number, unified multi-purpose ID card, and other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers.
Those who can avail of this incentive are new graduates who completed the K-12 program, a bachelor’s degree, or a technical-vocational course from any school, college, university, or technical-vocational institution in the country.
Students taking a leave of absence or those working part-time while enrolled are also qualified to avail the benefits.
“Ang mga Public Employment Service Office o PESO sa bawat probinsya, lungsod at munisipalidad ay dapat magsilbing one stop shop para sa mga aplikante,” said Angara, who also sponsored the law strengthening PESO.
SB 1629 mandates PESOs to assist first time jobseekers in securing all required documents for their job application, certification or clearance, and in registering or enrolling them with relevant government agencies such as the BIR, SSS, Pag-Ibig, PhilHealth, among others.
“Bukod sa libreng kolehiyo, dapat ay gawin na rin nating libre ang paghahanap ng trabaho na magbibigay daan upang umangat ang buhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Angara said.