MORE than 400,000 first-time jobseekers availed of free pre-employment documents from different government agencies last year, according to the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).
In a series of social media posts, the BLE reported that 400,470 pre-employment documents were issued for free by different government agencies in 2022.
“For 2022, the program has issued 400,470 pre-employment documents, free of charge,” said the BLE.
Having been provided the most are 190,459 Barangay Certificates, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government.
There were also 182,095 NBI Clearances issued for free by the National Bureau of Investigation.
A total of 26,031 Certificates of Proficiency from the Maritime Industry Authority have also been issued free.
Lastly, 1,885 Birth Certificates have been released for free by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
To recall, Republic Act No. 11261 provides that all first-time jobseekers may avail of pre-employment requirements for free.
These include graduates of college, vocational course, or high school, or those planning to be a working student.
To do so, the BLE said jobseekers only need to secure a Barangay Certification that they are first-time jobseekers from their barangays.
The Barangay Certification will then be presented to the government agencies in securing the pre-employment requirements from them.
Available for free for first time jobseekers are Barangay Clearance, Barangay Certificate, and Clearance for Employment (Office of the Mayor) from local government units; Police Clearance from the Philippine National Police; NBI Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation; and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Also free for first time jobseekers are Medical Certificate from a public hospital/Department of Health; PhilHealth ID from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Unified Multi-Purpose ID from the Social Security System/Government Service Insurance System; CSC Certificate of Eligibility from the Civil Service Commission; and National Certificates, Certification, Authentication Verification, and Certificates of Competencies from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
BLE said first time jobseekers may also avail Certificate of Proficiency on Basic Training, and Certificate of Proficiency on Ship Security Awareness Training and Seafarers with Designated Security Duties from Maritime Industry Authority; Overseas Employment Certificates from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; Birth Certificate, and Marriage Certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority; and Report Cards, Permanent School Records, Transcript of Academic Records, and or Certificate of Graduation Completion, and/or diploma, certificate of rating from Department of Education/Commission on Higher Education.
The First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act was signed into law back in February 2019.
