Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and 2019 senatorial candidate Bong Go has welcomed the signing into law of the act waiving in favor of first-time job seekers government fees for the issuance of documents required for employment applications.
First-time jobseekers include fresh graduates, students who have taken leaves of absence and out-of-school youth.
“Malaking bagay po ito para sa mga maghahanap ng trabaho sa unang pagkakataon pagka-graduate nila. Ano mang kabawasan sa gastos ay malaki ang maitutulong sa kanila na wala pang pinagkakakitaan. Muli po ipinakita ni Pangulong Duterte ang kanyang malasakit sa mga maliliit nating kababayan,” Go said.
The former presidential aide noted that an estimated 600,000 fresh graduates stand to benefit from the new law annually.
First-time job seekers may avail of the privilege when obtaining police clearance certificate, NBI clearance, barangay clearance, medical certificate from a public hospital, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and transcript of academic records issued by state colleges and universities.
The same privilege applies for securing tax identification numbers, the Unified Multi-Purpose ID card and other documentary requirements issued by the government as may be required by employers of job applicants.
“Gusto po ni Pangulong Duterte na matutong maghanap-buhay ang ating mga kabataan para malaman nila ang halaga ng trabaho at makatulong hindi lamang sa kanilang pamilya kundi sa ekonomiya ng ating bansa,” the former Palace official pointed out.
“If the they are busy working, there is a bigger chance they will avoid bad vices like illegal drugs.”
“Isa pa, kung busy sila sa trabaho, mas malaki ang tsansa na mailalayo sila sa masasamang bisyo tulad ng iligal na droga,” he added.
The law covers all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government owned and controlled corporations, local government units, and government hospitals, as long as the fee or charge is paid in connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of identification, clearances, certificates or other documents usually required in the course of employment locally or abroad.
However, a qualified job-seeker can avail of the privilege only once.
Likewise, the waiver of the fee does not include those connected with an application to take a professional licensure examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission or when applying for a Philippine passport.
“Katulad din po ang intensyon ng batas na ito sa pangako ni Pangulong Duterte na pagaanin ang pasanin ng mga mahirap nating kapatid. Nauna na po rito ang batas para sa 10-year validity ng passport at yung para sa 5-year validity ng driver’s license,” Go pointed out.
“Tulad po ng nasabi ko na, gagawin lahat ni Pangulong Duterte ang kanyang makakaya sa natitirang tatlong taon sa kanyang termino para sa kabutihan ng Pilipino,” he added.
Go reiterated his commitment to fully support the programs and policies of the President.
“Ipagpapatuloy ko po ang mga pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte, kasama na dito ang kanyang kampanya laban sa corruption, kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, at kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” Go said.
He said the Filipino people can always rely on him to bring to the President’s attention any of their concerns for the public good.
Among others, Go is pushing for a law that would enable the establishment of Malasakit Center in more provinces and strategic urban centers in the country and allow as well for the continuation of the program even after the term of the President.
“The Filipino people can always rely on me to bring to President Duterte’s attention any of their concerns for the public good.”
Based on his idea, the Malasakit Center is a continuing program of the administration seeking to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and PhilHealth.
Other priority concerns under Go’s legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, education, housing, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of overseas Filipino workers and improved benefits for senior citizens.
“Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kundi kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo,” he said.