Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 10630
Introduced by HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines has long upheld a national employment policy that ensures equal
employment opportunities for all, regardless of sex, race1, disability2, or age3. No less than
the 1987 Constitution acknowledges the importance of labor as the primary economic force,
recognizing economic participation as an important component of promoting
a just and
dynamic social order that will free the people from poverty.4 To this end, the fundamental law
mandates equal employment opportunities for all, including vulnerable sectors of society
who are nonetheless competent, able, and willing to participate in the labor force. This is
especially relevant to the plight of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.
To support this policy, the State has enacted laws of national relevance5 and has acceded to
international commitments6 aimed at providing an equal playing field for senior citizens and
PWDs. Despite these efforts, unemployment and underemployment remain to be an
overlooked, yet pervasive challenge for the sector. According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority, there were only 353,000 gainfully employed PWDs out of 1.9 million who are
within working age7 in 2022. This translates to roughly 1 in 5 PWDs being employed. In the
same year, the elderly sector faced a similar predicament where only 38.2% of the 2,538,000
qualified senior citizens in the country were employed.8
While there are local government policies aimed at promoting the hiring of PWDs and senior
citizens, the sector continues to encounter substantial obstacles such as inadequate
vocational training, insufficient accessible job openings, and biases related to physical
abilities and age. Therefore, there is a pressing need to formalize these local initiatives into a
national policy to truly attain equality.
8 Philippine Statistics Authority, June 2022 Labor Force Survey
7 Guillen et al. (2022) citing January 2022 Labor Force Survey
6 See International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 159; The United Nations Principles for
Older Persons; Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
5 See Rep. Act No. 7277, as amended; Rep. Act No. 10911
4 1987 Constitution, Art. II, § 9
3 Rep. Act No. 10911 (2015), § 2
2 Rep. Act. No. 7277 (1991), as amended, § 32
1 P.D. 442 (1974), as amended, § 3
July 22, 2024
9:50 am


The proposed measure seeks to directly address these barriers to work. By expressly
mobilizing existing Public Employment Service Offices, the State can provide targeted
support and resources to help qualified individuals in the sector find and retain gainful
employment. In providing an accessible and dedicated employment facilitation office to
PWDs and senior citizens, the State not only enhances their economic independence, but
also enables them to tap into their diverse set of skills and experience that would benefit the
industries they will work in. Moreover, enabling an open and accessible labor market can
boost local businesses because of enhanced customer diversity.
Finally, the proposed legislation would enable the Philippines to effectively fulfill its
international commitments in promoting social justice for PWDs, having sponsored the
United Nations (UN)
General Assembly’s Third Committee Resolution in 2014 titled
“Realizing the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development
goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond.” The bill
also supports the
Philippines’ obligations assumed under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, the UN Principles for Older Persons, and the Madrid International Plan of Action
on Ageing.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
Representative
Bicol Saro Party-list


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 10630
Introduced by HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION SERVICE NETWORK 
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDs) AND SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT IN EVERY 
PROVINCE, KEY CITY AND OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Inclusive Employment Act of 
2024."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to promote employment 
opportunities for all and strengthen existing employment facilitation service machinery of the 
government for persons with disability and senior citizens, particularly at the local levels.
SEC. 3. Establishment of the Local Center for Inclusive Employment (LCIE).- There is 
hereby established a Local Center for Inclusive Employment, hereinafter referred to as 
"LCIE", on all capital towns of provinces, key cities and other strategic areas, which shall be 
a unit under the existing Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in each local 
government unit.
The LCIE under each PESO shall be linked with the regional offices of the Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE) for coordination and technical supervision, and to the DOLE 
Central Office, to constitute the national employment service network.
SEC. 4. Objectives of the LCIE. - The LCIE shall ensure the prompt, appropriate, and 
timely employment facilitation service for PWDs and senior citizens and the provision of 
relevant information, education, and communication (IEC) materials for the benefit of the 
PWDs and senior citizens seeking gainful employment opportunities.
Specifically, the LCIE shall:


(A) Provide a venue where PWDs and senior citizens could find and explore various
employment options and seek training assistance for possible employment venture;
(B) Serve as referral and information center for the various services and programs being
provided by the DOLE and other government agencies with respect to the welfare and
employment of PWDs and senior citizens;
(C)
Provide
PWDs
and
senior
citizens
with
sufficient
information
on
employment
opportunities and labor market situation in the area; and
(D) Network with other LCIEs within the province and/or region on employment opportunities
for PWDs and senior citizens.
SEC. 5. Functions of the LCIE. - The LCIE shall have the following functions:
(A) Establish partnerships with employers who shall regularly submit to the LCIE a list of job
vacancies available for PWDs and senior citizens in their respective establishments;
(B) Facilitate the exchange of labor market information between the PWDs and senior
citizens jobseekers and employers, by providing employment information services the
jobseekers and recruitment assistance to employers;
(C) Develop and administer testing and evaluation instruments for effective qualification,
selection, training, and counseling;
(D) Develop training modules for PWDs and senior citizens in order to improve their skills
and comply with the skills requirement of the employer;
(E) Undertake employability enhancement trainings/seminars for PWDs and senior citizens,
as well as those PWDs and senior citizens who would like to enhance their employability;
(F)
Provide
occupational
counseling,
career
guidance,
mas
motivation
and
values
development activities to PWDs and senior citizen;
(G) Conduct pre-employment counseling and orientation to PWDs and senior citizens;
(H)
Provide
PWDs
and
senior
citizens
with access to the various livelihood and
self-employment programs offered by both government and non-government organizations
(NGOs) at the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels by undertaking referrals for
such programs;
(I)
Conduct
jobs
fairs,
Work
Appreciation
Programs
(WAPs),
and
livelihood
and
self-employment bazaars, among other employment facilitation strategies;
(J) Provide reintegration assistance services to PWDs and senior citizens who are
retrenched or terminated; and
(K) Perform such functions and willfully carry out the objectives of this Act.


SEC. 6. Role of the DOLE and LGUs. – Upon the request of the Local Government Units
through existing PESOs, the DOLE shall undertake the establishment, operation, and
maintenance of the LCIE.
It shall be the responsibility of the DOLE to:
(A) Establish and maintain a computerized PWD and senior citizens manpower registry of
skills and employment and business opportunities to facilitate the provision and packaging of
employment assistance to PWD and senior citizen clients and the setting-up of regional job
clearance systems as part of the overall employment network;
(B) Designate, in consultation with the PESO or NGO concerned, a qualified project
manager and/or key personnel who shall be responsible for the operation and management
of the LCIE;
(D) Provide technical assistance and allied support services to the LCIE;
(E) Train LCIE personnel in the various aspects of employment facilitation functions;
(F) Extend/facilitate such other package of employment services through the provision of
employment assistance to PWD and senior citizen clients of the LGU or NGO concerned,
including the conduct of jobs fairs and other activities; and
(G) Undertake, monitor, assess and evaluate the LCIE program implementation.
SEC. 7. Administration of the LCIE Program. - The DOLE shall be primarily responsible
for the administration of the LCIE Program through the Bureau of Workers with Special
Concerns, as well as its regional offices throughout the country. The Secretary of Labor and
Employment, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), and National Commission Of Senior
Citizens (NCSC), and in consultation with the presidents of the various local government
leagues, namely the League of Provinces, the League of Cities, the League of Municipalities,
and the League of Barangays, shall accordingly promulgate, within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
the Program.
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the existing appropriations of the DOLE and its other operating
agencies. Thereafter, the amounts needed for the ful implementation of this Act shall be
included in the budget of the DOLE in the succeeding annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to be in full
force and effect.


SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations and
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
Approved,