SENATOR Camille Villar has filed a bill seeking to provide all fresh graduates from Philippine universities, colleges, and training institutions with a one-time cash grant of ₱5,000 to help cover the costs of job applications, initial employment, and settling in.

Under Senate Bill No. 331, the proposed grant aims to ease the financial challenges new graduates face as they transition from school to the workforce, particularly amid inflation, high transportation costs, and unstable job opportunities.

“Fresh graduates are often caught in a difficult situation — eager to work but without the resources to fund transportation, professional attire, printing of resumes, and other application-related expenses,” Villar said in her explanatory note.

“When they do get hired, they still need money to get by until they receive their first paycheck,” she added.

Villar noted that while Republic Act No. 11261, or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, already waives certain government fees for first-time job seekers, more direct financial assistance is needed to help them secure employment.

She stressed that the proposed grant is not a mere dole-out but an investment in the country’s emerging labor force, reflecting the State’s duty to protect and promote the welfare of the youth.

“This is a mark of a caring government — to provide relief and support to our young graduates as they begin their journey into the workforce,” Villar said, urging the bill’s immediate passage.