Sen. Joel Villanueva's statement on the House approval of bill waiving fees for new graduates applying for employment (HB 172)

We hail the House approval on third and final reading a bill seeking to waive government fees and charges collected for documents required in the employment application of our fresh graduates.

As principal author and sponsor of the First-time Jobseekers Assistance Act (SB 1629) in the Senate, we look forward to the immediate passage of this bill into law which would greatly ease the financial burden of first-time jobseekers in acquiring government documents they need for job application.

We welcome the support of our colleagues in the House in prioritizing this significant measure that will benefit around 600,000 fresh graduates annually as well as out-of-school youth who usually face difficulties as they undergo school-to-work transition.

It is a great service to the nation, that we provide ways and means for the younger generations' ease of entrance into the country's labor force as valuable human resources and productive citizens.