PASAY CITY — To ease the financial hurdles faced by underprivileged job seekers, Senator Mark Villar has introduced a measure seeking to slash the expenses of securing essential employment credentials.
Senate Bill No. 1272, or the proposed Kabalikat sa Hanapbuhay Act, looks to grant qualified indigent applicants a 20 percent discount on various employment-related documents, alongside free school credentials and tax identification numbers.
Explaining the rationale behind the legislative initiative, Villar emphasized that financial constraints should never block citizens from finding economic opportunities.
“Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kakulangan sa pera para sa mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng trabaho. Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang ito, nais nating mabawasan ang kanilang gastusin sa pagkuha ng mga kinakailangang dokumento upang mas makapagpokus sila sa paghahanap ng trabaho at pagsisimula ng kanilang kabuhayan,” Villar said.
Under the proposed measure, the 20 percent price reduction applies to barangay, police, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances, as well as medical certificates, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) civil registry documents, Civil Service Commission eligibility certificates, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) competency certifications.
Furthermore, the bill proposes exempting qualified beneficiaries from Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Tax Identification Number (TIN) fees, while waiving charges for transcripts of records, diplomas, and good moral certificates from state and local universities and colleges.
Villar noted that the legislation was inspired by feedback gathered during his monthly MARKAbuhayan Job Caravan, where many applicants revealed how securing mandatory pre-employment paperwork drains the tight budgets of low-income families.
To qualify for assistance, beneficiaries must earn below the official poverty threshold, lack visible sources of income, or struggle to meet basic necessities. Households enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will automatically qualify, while others can secure a free Certificate of Indigency from their local social welfare office.
The benefits can be claimed once every six months per government agency, though the program excludes first-time job seekers already covered by Republic Act No. 11261 or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act. Implementing agencies will track beneficiaries via Public Employment Service Offices and the Department of Labor and Employment’s PhilJobnet platform, with penalties established for document falsification or the unlawful denial of benefits.
Reiterating his commitment to empowering ordinary workers, Villar underscored the vital role of stable employment in lifting families out of poverty.
“Ang pagkakaroon ng trabaho ay mahalagang hakbang tungo sa mas maayos na buhay. Kaya mahalagang matulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating kapos sa buhay na matugunan ang mga kinakailangan sa pag-aaplay, nang hindi nadaragdagan ang kanilang pinansiyal na pasanin,” Villar added.