The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill that grants poor job applicants 20 percent discount on fees and charges for government certificates and clearances.
With 231 affirmative votes and zero negative, the Lower House passed House Bill 6593 or the “Poor Job Applicants Discount Act.”
The bill was filed by a group of Metro Manila lawmakers composed of Reps. Dale “Along” Malapitan (NP, Caloocan City); Edward Maceda (NPC, Manila); Eric M. Martinez (PDP-Laban, Valenzuela City); John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto (PDP-Laban, Manila); and Rolando M. Valeriano (PDP-Laban, Manila).
Malapitan, chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, lauded the House leadership for the swift approval of the bill, saying the measure will come a long way in helping the jobless poor in the country.
The 20 percent discount on fees and charges will apply on pre-employment requirements such as the following: barangay clearance; police and National Bureau of Investigation clearance; medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital and copies of marriage and live birth certificates.
Also discounted are copies of transcript of records and certificate of good moral character from state universities and colleges.
The bill defines a poor job applicant as someone who is seeking gainful employment and has no visible means of income or whose income falls below the official poverty threshold.
Recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are automatically qualified to avail of the discount privilege.
HB 6953 penalizes violators with a fine ranging from P5,000 to P20,000 if he or she is a public officer or employee.
Job applicants found falsifying documents will be punished under the pertinent provisions of the Revised Penal Code and will be perpetually disqualified from availing of the privilege.
Authors of the measure underscored the importance of making it easier for indigent job applicants to avail of needed certificates.
They noted that unemployment has continued to rise, particularly during the on-going COVID-19 threat.
“Unemployment delivers the unemployed to low self-esteem, depression and unxiety. It brings with it unhappines, anguish and despair,” the lawmakers said.
According to the authors, government is duty-bound to address the unemployment problem and thus, alleviate poverty in the country.
“Thus, the poor should be assisted in finding decent work so that they will be able to liberate and lift themselves up from such a depressing condition,” the Metro Manila solons said.