BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing assistance to first-time job seekers or first-tie employed workers by waiving government fees and charges on the issuance of clearances and working permit fees.
The ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Edison R. Bilog stated that it shall be the policy of the local government to provide assistance to first-time job seekers or first-time employed workers by waiving government fees and charges on the issuance of clearances and working permit fees being collected by the city.
The ordinance stipulated that it shall apply to first-time job seekers or first-time employed workers which shall include new graduates from all private and public schools, accredited institutions offering technical-vocational courses, universities and colleges in the city and early school leavers or persons not employed or engaged in education or training or a student taking a leave of absence from a school or institution in the city.
Under the proposed ordinance, the first-time job seeker or first-time employed worker shall inform the City Public Employment Services Office his or her desire to avail of the waiver of fees on clearances prior to securing the necessary permits and clearances and likewise present the documentary requirements.
The ordinance added that the local government shall waive clearances and working permit fees charged to first-time job seekers and first-time employed workers in connection with their application for employment or as requirement for first-time employment.
Among the fees that will be waived by the local government include police clearance certificate, working permit fees and medical certificate or clearances from the City Health Services Office.
The ordinance stipulated that first-time job seekers or first-time employed workers shall present proof of graduation, leave of absence or date of last completed studies to the City Public Employment Services Office while new graduates are required to present the original or certified true copy of the diploma or certification from the concerned academic, vocational or technical institutions that the first-time job seeker has successfully completed the course required or has earned academic units while early school leavers or those on leave of absence or those not employed or engaged in education or training shall present a certification of leave of absence or of the date of last enrolment from the concerned education institution.
A first-time job seeker or first-time employed worker shall be entitled the waiver of clearances and working permit fees as provided under the measure only once within one year from the date of graduation or the leave of absence or enrolment.
The City Public Employment Services Office in coordination with the Baguio City Police Office and the City Health Services Office shall ensure the strict implementation of the provisions of the measure.
Further, the PESO and other concerned offices shall immediately prepare the implementing rules and regulations of the local legislative measure to effectively and efficiently achieve the purpose of the ordinance and the same shall be submitted to the City Mayor and to the City Council for approval.
By Dexter A. See
