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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI 
______________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A 2013 Philippine Institute of Development Studies report showed that 50% of PWDs 
who live in an urban setting are unemployed, with the percentage going much higher for those 
living in rural settings. The same report also showed that 45.9% of PWDs in an urban setting 
and 61.9% of PWDs in a rural setting are living below poverty line. 1  Although there has been 
progress in integrating our PWDs into society, more can still be done to further ensure that they 
are afforded the same opportunities as those given to other able-bodied individuals.  
The Philippines still has a long way to go in making the entire country inclusive to all. 
This bill seeks to bring us closer to this goal by increasing the positions reserved for persons 
with disabilities (PWDs) in all government agencies, offices and corporations from one percent 
to two percent, and mandating private corporations to employ a workforce, at least one percent 
of which is from the same sector. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI 
1 https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/126332-elections-pwd-philippines-platforms 
May 26, 2021
10:47 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
INCREASING THE POSITIONS RESERVED FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED PERSONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Equal Opportunity for Employment. – Section 5 of Republic Act 
No. 7277, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 5. Equal Opportunity for Employment. – No person with disability 
shall be denied access to opportunities for suitable employment. A qualified 
employee with disability shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of 
employment and the same compensation, privileges, benefits, fringe benefits, 
incentives 
or 
allowances 
as 
a 
qualified 
able-bodied 
person. 
At least [one percent (1%)] TWO PERCENT (2%) of all positions in all 
government agencies, offices or corporations shall be reserved for persons 
with disability: Provided, That private corporations [with more than one 
hundred (100) employees are encouraged to] SHALL reserve at least one 
percent (1%) of all positions for persons with disability.”  
SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. –  Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), in 
coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Civil Service 
Commission (CSC), the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled 
Corporations (GCG), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare 
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and Development (DSWD), and other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 3. Appropriations. – The funds needed to implement this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 6. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in 
the Philippines.  
 
 
Approved,