Bill to exempt jobseekers from gov’t document fees

Fresh college graduates may soon be exempted from paying fees and charges for government-issued documents required for employment and job applications after the House of Representatives approved House Bill 172 on second reading before adjourning for the Christmas break early this month.

It will calendar the measure on the floor for third reading action in January.

HB 172 is a consolidation of eight bills filed separately by Reps. Jericho Jonas B. Nograles (PBA Partylist); Victoria Isabel Noel (An Waray Partylist); Raul Tupas (LP, Iloilo) and Harlin Abayon (Aangat Tayo), among other authors.

Cagayan Rep. Randolph Ting, chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, aired strong optimism that the bill will be passed on third and final reading when Congress resumes session next month.

Former Reps. Mark Villar, now Secretary of Public Works, and his wife, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, now Undersecretary of Justice, also authored separate bills.

Ting said HB 172 proposes to provide assistance to new graduates and make it easier and economical for them to land jobs.

Under the bill, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including governmentowned and controlled corporations and local government units will be barred from collecting fees or charges from new graduates who seek the issuance of documentary requirements for employment.

HB 172 creates an –interagency monitoring committee to be chaired by the Executive Secretary to oversee the implementation of its provisions.