Lawmaker seeks P5,000 cash grant for fresh grad jobseekers

A one-time, P5,000 cash grant for fresh college and vocational course graduates who are seeking jobs was proposed at the House of Representatives.

House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar of Las Piñas proposed House Bill 6542 which will cover fresh graduates of Philippine tertiary institutions, colleges, universities, and training institutions to fund the initial expenses of their employment application while they settle in their landed job.

“This bill seeks to compliment and help fresh graduates by giving them a one-time cash grant in the amount of P5,000 which they can use as productivity/earnest fund [for their] application for employment, transportation and settling-in amount if they get a job soonest,” Villar said in a statement.

“A student fresh out of graduation and desirous of a decent means of livelihood, finds himself or herself at a loss on how to fund for employment application prospects amid the continuously increasing transportation fare and the difficulty of commuting, preparing a decent work wear, printing tons of biodata or curriculum vitae, and other expenses needed,” Villar added.

Under Villar’s proposal, those who want to avail of the assistance should submit a copy of their diploma or any valid proof of graduation issued by the educational institution to the government agency or local government unit concerned.

The diploma, certification, document, or communication 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.

The bill also provides for an interagency monitoring committee to be headed by the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The committee will formulate the implementing rules and regulations and monitor compliance by the various state agencies and instrumentalities.

The appropriations needed to implement the bill will be coursed thru CHED, and such an amount may be determined by Congress after consultations with different stakeholders.

“While some would label the grant as means of a dole-out, the higher purpose is actually investment in the emerging labor force which is for the best interest of the state,” Villar said.

“Similarly, it is an aegis of a caring government to provide relief and an expression of the principle of 'Parens Patriae'—to show the State's commitment to promote the highest interest of the Filipino youth,” Villar added.

Villar’s bill is pending before the House Higher and Technical Education panel. — DVM, GMA Integrated News