A party-list lawmaker on Friday welcomed the move of the House of Representatives to approve a bill mandating the government to waive the fees and charges collected in the issuance of documents required in the fresh graduates’ application for employment.
Rep. Jericho Jonas Nograles of PBA party-list, co-author of House Bill 173, said the bill’s enactment shall protect the interest of the youth and facilitate their access to employment by authorizing a reasonable waiver of fees collected by the government for various clearances, licenses and other documents from fresh graduates who are seeking employment.
“The recommended waiver of fees must not be viewed as a diminution of revenues for the government but as a means to protect the interest of our youth,” Nograles, a deputy majority leader, said.
The bill was sponsored on the floor by House committee on ways and means chairperson, Rep. Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija.
HB 172, principally authored by Nograles’ brother, former Davao City Representative and now Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles was already approved on second reading.
It is expected to hurdle the third and final reading approval when Congress resumes session on Jan. 14.
The bill declares that it is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the youth. In line with this, it shall endeavor to provide them with opportunities for development by creating policies that will improve their access to employment.
Subject to exceptions, the bill mandates all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and -controlled corporations and local government units, not to collect fees or charges from new graduates. Maricel V. Cruz
Such fees or charges are 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.
Moreover, the application for such license, proof of identification, clearance, or other documents is submitted within one year after the applicant graduated from high school, college, or any vocational or technical course.
A copy of the new graduate’s diploma or a certification from the concerned academic, vocational or technical institution stating that the said graduate has successfully completed the course required shall be submitted before the waiver authorized under the proposed Act can be availed of.
The diploma or certification should clearly state the date of graduation or completion of the degree earned and signed by the institution’s duly authorized representative.
Such copy of the diploma or certification shall serve as prima facie evidence of the fact of graduation and sufficient for the government agency concerned to grant the waiver.
The bill also provides that any person found to be fabricating or falsifying any proof of graduation shall be liable under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.
The fees and charges to be waived shall not include those collected in connection with an application to take a professional licensure examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission or for a Philippine passport.