VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Regional Office 1 reiterated to fresh graduates and young professionals that they can have access to government services and secure their pre-employment requirements from government agencies for free through the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act (FTJAA).
 
Mr. Justin Paul Marbella, information officer of DOLE Ilocos, said that the FTJAA or Republic Act 11261 was enacted in 2019, but it is their mandate to strengthen the campaign for employment recovery.
 
“This is a strategy to help the FTJs, especially the graduates because it is the graduation season, para matulungan natin silang mas mapadali ang kanilang employment through this benefit na libre ang pagkuha ng pangunahing pre-employment documents nila,” he said in an interview on Friday.
 
He shared that among the documents they can avail are barangay clearance and certificate, police clearance, Bureau of Internal Revenue Tax Identification Number, Unified Multi-Purpose ID cards from the Social Security Service and the Government Service Insurance System, and clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation, among others.

“Iyan po iyong mga libreng makukuha ng ating FTJs. We encourage them to enjoy or take advantage of this benefit. Madali lang po ito, pumunta lang sila sa kanilang respective barangays, bibigyan po sila doon ng certification as first time job seekers at pwede na nilang ipakita sa iba’t ibang ahensya,” he said.
 
He also clarified that the FTJs are not necessarily just fresh graduates because there are individuals who may not have been active jobseekers before.
 
Roselyn Pesawen, a candidate for graduation at the University of Northern Philippines, said that this initiative of the government lifts a huge burden for first-time job seekers like herself.

“Siyempre masaya kami na pwede kaming kumuha ng libreng documents mula sa iba’t ibang government agencies na kakailanganin namin sa paghahanap ng trabaho,” she said.
 
She added, “Kasi makakatulong talaga ito sa amin na mabawasan iyong gastusin namin at makakatipid pa kami lalo na at napakaraming documents ang kailangan naming ipasa sa mga employers.”
 
Other documents they can avail are Clearance for Employment from the Office of the Mayor, Certificate of Eligibility from the Civil Service Commission, Maritime Industry Authority Certificate of Proficiency, Certificate of Live Birth and Marriage Certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Overseas Employment Certificates, PhilHealth ID and other government issued documents that may be required by employers.(JCR/AMB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)