QC gives aid to first-time jobseekers

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City council has passed an ordinance providing for financial assistance to poor but deserving first-time jobseekers to cover their pre-employment requirement expenses.

Councilor Donato Matias, a first-term lawmaker from the sixth district, authored the measure, which created the “Hanap Na, Pay Later” program.

He said one of the major hindrances among jobseekers today is the lack of money to pay for the numerous pre-employment requirements that need to be submitted in order to get hired. The city’s healthy business climate has allowed for numerous job opportunities to be made available and it is now the job of the leaders to make those jobs accessible to everyone, Matias said.

The program, which has an initial budget of P1 million, offers loans to jobseekers, who are supposed to pay off the loan once they are employed and earning.

The Quezon City public employment office is the implementing agency tasked to draft the implementing rules and regulations of the new ordinance.