Looking for your first job? Apart from the application, interview, and onboarding process, you also have a lot of paperwork to contend with. Not to mention processing and registration fees. While most documents cost a few hundred pesos or less, paying for all of them can add up to thousands. Fortunately, Republic Act 11261, known as the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, can help by waiving the fees for common documentary requirements.

The Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives passed the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act into law on April 10, 2019. It aims to promote employment among Filipino citizens by removing the financial barrier to accessing government services like documentary requirements.

First-time jobseekers enjoy one-time-only waived fees when obtaining:

• Police (PNP) clearance certificate, normally ₱160
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance, normally ₱130
• Barangay clearance, normally between ₱50 and ₱200, depending on the barangay
• Medical certificate from a public hospital (Note: this doesn’t cover the fee for lab tests and other medical procedures, only the issuance of the medical certificate.), usually between ₱50 and ₱150, depending on the hospital
• Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Birth certificate, normally ₱330
• PSA Marriage certificate, normally ₱330
• Transcript of academic records from state colleges or universities, normally between ₱50 and ₱100 per page, depending on the institution
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) card, which costs ₱100 to replace
• Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card, which costs ₱200 to replace
• Other documentary requirements, including:
• Civil Service Commission Certificate of Eligibility
• PhilHealth ID
• Mayor’s clearance from the Business Processing and Licensing Office
• Prosecutor’s clearance
• Municipal and regional trial court clearances
• Maritime Industry Authority certificates
• Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) certificates of competency (for passers of TESDA’s courses and competency assessments)

The First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act doesn’t cover payment exemptions for the following:

• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Authentication of Documents
• Career Service Examination
• Driver’s License
• Philippine Passport
• Professional Licensure Examination
• Medical consults, procedures, or tests from state or private clinics or hospitals

Important Note: This law provides a one-time waiver of fees. If you've already benefited from similar programs like the JobStart Program (RA 10869) or other fee exemption initiatives, you can’t claim these benefits again. Government agencies maintain records to prevent this. Any falsification of information will result in legal penalties.

To avail of the waived fees for government services and documents under RA 11261, you must be:

• A Filipino citizen
• A resident of your barangay for at least six months
• A first-time jobseeker actively looking for work, whether you’re: 
• A fresh graduate from high school, college, university, or a technical vocational course
• A student planning to work while studying
• A student on leave from school
• An out-of-school youth looking for work

To take advantage of First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act benefits, you’ll need to show an official certificate issued by your local barangay government unit. 

This certificate states you’ve been a resident of your barangay for at least six months and have applied for it as a first-time jobseeker. It’s the most important requirement for availing RA 11261 benefits, although you may also need to show a valid ID when collecting your documents.

Here's how to get your first-time jobseekers barangay certificate:

1. Prepare the following:
1. Proof that you’ve been a resident of your barangay for at least six months. This can be a billing statement, a Community Tax Certificate (cedula), or a valid government ID that displays your address, like a driver’s license.
2. Proof of Filipino citizenship, like a valid government ID, birth or marriage certificate, etc. 
2. Visit your barangay hall or whichever office issues the certificate.
3. Apply for the certificate, informing the officer in charge that you’re doing so as a first-time jobseeker. Show the documents mentioned in Step 1 when asked for them.

Don't let the cost of documents deter you from your job search. This Act can save you thousands of pesos! Get as many free documents as possible now, even if you think you might not need them. It's better to have them and not need them than to need them and have to pay later.

Pro Tip: Before you head out to get your documents, research which government agencies accept photocopies of the first-time jobseeker certificate and which ones require the original. For example, the NBI generally requires the original copy, so it’s best to process your NBI clearance last. This can save you time and prevent unnecessary trips. 

Once you land a job, inform your human resources (HR) officer that you have a first-time jobseeker’s barangay certificate—they might be able to assist you in getting any remaining requirements.

Save time and effort by applying online for many of the documents covered by the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act. For a smoother experience, consider Globe’s GFiber Prepaid, so you can manage your expenses closely. Or, if you’re job searching on the go, check out prepaid promos with generous data allocations. Now that you know all about RA 11261, you can get a head start on your career. Happy job hunting!