House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar has highlighted the recent committee-level passage of her bill, which sought to provide a P5,000 "ayuda" or subsidy to fresh graduates.
Villar earlier authored House Bill (HB) no.6542, or the proposed Act providing fresh graduates of Philippine tertiary education, universities, colleges and training institutions, of a one-time cash grant of P5,000 which they can utilize for job application, initial employment and settling-in.
The bill was passed by the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education last Monday, Feb. 20. The panel is chaired by Baguio lone district Rep. Mark Go.
“This is an assistance to graduates, an encouragement as they become part of the workforce which is very relevant at this time. They can also utilize the amount, small it may be, in commencing a micro business or a start-up enterprise,” Villar said.
Representatives from various state agencies who attended the hearing expressed no objection to the measure, and solons suggested only minor amendments to improve it.
One of them, Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, suggested to include a provision that the method for the release of the cash grant should be coursed through an automated teller machine (ATM).
A Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) official said there were some 345,000 graduates in both public and private higher educational institutions during the 2020-2021 school year.
CLICK HERE:
To avail of the cash aid, a copy of diploma or any valid proof of graduation issued by the educational institution shall be presented to the government agency or local government concerned.
The proof of graduation 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.
Under the measure, an interagency monitoring committee will be created to be headed by the CHEd chairperson. The body will formulate the implementing rules and regulations and monitor compliance by the various state agencies and instrumentalities.
“This is not a dole-out but should be viewed as an investment of the government to the youth, fully consistent with our Constitution, and the nation’s existing laws on social welfare,” Villar added.