KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has called on concerned government agencies to comply with the provisions of the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, also referred to as Republic Act No. 11261, reinforcing its commitment to supporting this legislation.
The measure ensures that new graduates can benefit from waived government fees related to pre-employment documents.
“Noong sinimulan itong bill na ito according to the Senate umaabot ng 2,000 pesos ang gastos ng mga first time job seekers for their pre-employment documents,” said Charles Bataga, information Officer of DOLE in Region 12.
(When this bill was introduced, the Senate stated that the costs for first-time job seekers to obtain their pre-employment documents amounted to 2,000 pesos.)
Under this act, first-time jobseekers—including fresh graduates, out-of-school youth, and individuals re-entering the workforce—are eligible for fee exemptions when obtaining essential documents such as NBI clearance, police clearance, medical certificates, birth and marriage certificates, academic records, and government IDs.
“The First-Time Jobseekers Act was created para mabawasan ang gastos ng ating mga first time job seekers. Kailangan lang lumapit sila sa kanilang mga barangay to get their certifications,” Bataga added.
(The First-Time Jobseekers Act was established to minimize the costs associated with job-seeking for individuals entering the workforce for the first time. They simply need to visit their barangays to obtain their certifications.)
To avail of the benefits, jobseekers must obtain a certification from their respective barangay, which verifies their status as first-time jobseekers.
Bataga further explained that this certification is valid for one year and must be presented to the relevant government agencies. However, individuals who have previously benefited from similar exemptions under other laws or programs, such as JobStart Philippines, are not eligible.
DOLE also prodded private businesses to accept certified true copies of pre-employment documents during the application process.
It said the goal is to help beneficiaries access job opportunities without facing financial constraints.
Based on the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations, the DOLE Secretary serves as the chairperson of the Inter-Agency Monitoring Committee, which has been established to act as an oversight body ensuring proper implementation and compliance.
It also includes the heads of several agencies, such as the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Finance, the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Youth Commission, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
In 2024, the DILG reported that over 700,000 first-time job seekers across the nation acquired certifications from their respective local barangays. (SZT, PIA Region 12)
