[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11261, April 10, 2019 ]

AN ACT WAIVING GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES IN THE ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OF FIRST TIME JOBSEEKERS

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 the "First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act" .

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote full employment and equality of gainful work and opportunities for its citizens. As such, the State shall expand accessibility to government services and provide incentives to improve a first time jobseeker's access to employment.

SEC. 3. Waiver of Fees and Charges. - Subject to exceptions provided in Section 8 of this Act, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges from a first time jobseeker: Provided, That such 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: Provided, further, That the benefit provided under this Act shall only be availed of once.

SEC. 4. Covered Government Transactions. - No fees and other charges shall be collected from the first time jobseekers when obtaining the following, subject to the requirement in Section 5:

(a) Police clearance certificate;

(b) National Bureau of Investigation clearance;

(c) Barangay clearance;

(d) Medical certificate from a public hospital, provided that fees and charges collected for laboratory tests and other medical procedures required for the grant of a medical certificate shall not be free of charge;

(e) Birth certificate;

(f) Marriage certificate;

(g) Transcript of academic records issued by state colleges and universities;

(h) Tax Identification Number (TIN);

(i) Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card; and

(j) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from job applicants.

SEC. 5. Proof of Eligibility. - First time jobseekers availing of the benefits provided under this Act shall present a barangay certification stating that the applicant is a first time jobseeker: Provided, That any person found guilty of fabrication or falsification shall be liable under the Revised Penal Code.

SEC. 6. Database Management. - The concerned government agencies shall maintain and update a roster of all individuals who have been issued documents under this Act. This roster shall be regularly submitted to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) which shall compile a database of all beneficiaries of this Act to be made accessible to all relevant agencies.

SEC. 7. One Stop Shop. - The Public Employment Service Office or PESO in different provinces, cities and municipalities shall assist first time jobseekers in securing required pre-employment documents from relevant government agencies.

SEC. 8. Exceptions. - The waiver of fees and charges provided under this Act shall not include those collected in connection with an application to take a professional licensure examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission, application for a Philippine passport authentication and red ribbon of documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs, application for a Career Service Examination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and application for a driver's license from the Land Transportation Office.

SEC. 9. Non-Authority to Charge Fees. - This Act shall not be construed as an implied authority for all government agencies to impose or collect charges and fees in relation to the discharge of their functions if no such authority is already granted under their respective charters or other relevant laws.

SEC. 10. Exclusion of Jobstart Program Applicants as Beneficiaries. - The beneficiaries of the Jobstart Program under Republic Act No. 10869 and other laws that give similar exemptions for the documents or transactions enumerated herein shall not be qualified to avail of the benefits of this Act.

SEC. 11. Interpretation in Favor of the Applicant. - In all cases, any ambiguity in the interpretation of the provisions of this Act shall be in favor of the applicant.

No government agency or instrumentality shall issue unduly restrictive regulations which will render nugatory the benefits provided under this Act. Such shall constitute an administrative offense punishable under the Administrative Code and other pertinent laws.

SEC. 12. Interagency Monitoring Committee. - An interagency committee is hereby created with the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, as chairperson, and as members, the heads of the CSC, the DICT, the Department of Finance, the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the National Youth Commission, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other departments the participation of which the committee may deem necessary.

The committee shall monitor the compliance of the concerned government agencies and instrumentalities, and 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. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, in consultation with the DICT and other concerned agencies, issue the appropriate implementing rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved, 

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1629 and House Bill No. 172 was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on February 6, 2019..
 

Approved: APR 10 2019

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
    President of the Philippines   

Source: Supreme Court E-Library