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Guidelines on the Provision of Free Covid-19 Testing for Newly Hired Jobseekers

The Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issued Department Order No. 233, series of 2022 on 31 March 2022 to provide guidelines for the implementation of the one-time grant of free COVID-19 testing for qualified newly hired jobseekers, as provided under Republic Act No. 11639 or the 2022 General Appropriations Act. 

Coverage

Newly hired jobseekers across all sectors complying with the pre-employment requirements are qualified to avail of the testing subsidy, subject to compliance with the requirements. The following preference shall be followed in granting the subsidy:

  1. Newly hired jobseekers in private domestic establishments;
  2. Agency-hired overseas worker set for deployment; and
  3. Newly appointed employee in any branch or instrumentality of the government.

The program shall cover jobseekers hired after the effectivity of the Order, and jobseekers employed beginning 01 February 2022 and who have yet to assume such positions due to lack of negative RT-PCR test result. RT-PCR test is the recommended test to confirm COVID-19 infection. Foreign nationals, except Persons of Concern (i.e., refugees, returnees, stateless people, internally displaced, and asylum-seekers) are excluded. 

Program Implementation

Any newly hired jobseeker included in the list above who are required to secure a negative RT-PCR result among the pre-employment requirements are eligible for the grant of the free RT-PCR test.

The applicant jobseeker must provide the following documentary requirements to the nearest DOLE Field Office:

  1. Photocopy of any valid government-issued ID;
  2. Duly accomplished subsidy application form; and
  3. Certificate of engagement, acceptance, or appointment as the case may be, duly signed by the following:

    1. Establishment owner, general manager, or human resource manager, in case of private domestic establishments and recruitment agencies deploying workers overseas; or
    2. Head of Agency’s Human Resource Office or the Head of the Agency where the item is, in case of government branch or instrumentality.

The concerned DOLE Field Office shall evaluate the application within three (3) working days from receipt thereof and endorse the pre-evaluated applications to the concerned Regional Office for final approval/denial.

The concerned DOLE Regional Office shall notify the applicant within five (5) working days whether the application is approved or denied through electronic mail/SMS. If approved, the electronic mail shall include the information that the beneficiary shall present to the testing center (i.e., reference number, date and time, and place of vaccination). 

Program Management

The DOLE Regional Offices, through the Regional Directors, shall perform the following:

  1. Identify DOH- Accredited testing centers within the region where beneficiaries of the program can take their RT-PCR test;
  2. Undertake the necessary procurement procedures in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and execute the Memorandum of Agreement with the selected testing centers;
  3. Review the pre-evaluated applications by the Field Offices under its jurisdiction;
  4. Notify the applicants via electronic mail or SMS whether the application is approved or denied;
  5. Transmit to the partner testing centers the details of the approved jobseekers at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date of the RT-PCR test;
  6. Prepare and facilitate the payment for the partner testing centers;
  7. Conduct advocacy campaigns and information dissemination activities;
  8. Prepare and submit monitoring reports to the Bureau of Local Employment; and
  9. Ensure timely delivery of services to beneficiaries.

The DOLE Field/Satellite Office shall:

  1. Receive applications with complete documentary requirements;
  2. Conduct preliminary evaluation of received applications; and
  3. Endorse pre-evaluate applications to the concerned DOLE Regional Office for further review or for final approval/denial, whichever is applicable.

Program Monitoring

The DOLE Regional Office shall prepare and submit necessary weekly monitoring reports to the Bureau of Local Employment for consolidation and evaluation. The latter shall then submit the reports to the Office of the Secretary through the Undersecretary of the Employment and General Administration Cluster. 

Budget

The DOLE shall allocate and utilize funds amounting to Php 100 Million to be sourced from the 2022 GAA budget.
The full text of Department Order No. 233, series of 2022 can be accessed here.