Republic of the Philippines wh
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TOSEP 2013.
Quezon City ;

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.No._2788

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Existing in a most imperfect world is one way of expressing a disabled
person's viewpoint, Why? It is because they have a considerably heavier burden to
carry, vis-a-vis, a normal person. Their world is more restricted and smaller, from a
metaphorical point of view, because they cannot do everything thet non-disabled
persons do. This explains why countries and governments around the world have
continuously through the years, formulated ways and means to better the disabled
persons’ pligh! and welfare; be they through laws, executive orders and even civic-
oriented projects and programs.

Philippines history recalls that our government's concern for the welfare of
persons with ciisabilities (PWDs) began as early as 1917. The national concern for
rehabilitation vas manifested by non-government organizations as well. On January
16, 1978, our country hosted the Second International Conference on Legislation
Concerning the Disabled Persons organized by the Rehabilitation International's
national affilicte, the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation for Disabled
Persons (PFRD). During the said conference, former President Ferdinand Marcos
signed Presidential Decree No. 1509 creating the National Commission Concerning
Disabled Persons (NCCDP). NCCDP was tasked to prepare and adopt an integrated
and comprehensive long-term National Rehabilitation Plan (NRP).

Moreov=r, legislative records are replete with various laws portaining to the
protection of the welfare of disabled persons including: a) Batas Pambansa Blg. 344,
otherwise known as the “Accessibility Law’; b) Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise
known as "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons’; and c) Republic Act No. 9442,
otherwise known as the “Amendment to the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons”


The Ph lippine government is also a signatory to the ILO Convention No. 159,
otherwise known as the “Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons With
Disability”.

Globally, the United Nations has also called upon government agencies all
over the worlc to develop and provide the needed programs to promote the welfare
of persons with disabilities (PWD) in their proclamation of the “Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons from 1903 to 2002” and its extension to another decade
from 2003 — 2012.

In consonance with the above, this proposed measure seeks to promote the
employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) end strengthen
existing employment facilitation service machinery of the government for persons
with disability, particularly at the local levels. This measure seeks to establish in all
capital towns of provinces, key cities and other strategic areas a “Persons With
Disability Employment Facilitation Office’ (PWDEFO) which shall be community-
based and maintained largely by local government units (LGUs), and a number of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs).
The office shell ensure the prompt, appropriate, and timely employment facilitation
service for persons with disability and the provision of relevant information, education
and communication (IEC) materials for the benefit of the PWCs seeking for
productive em loyment opportunities.

The PW/DEFO will provide a venue where PWDs could find and explore
various employment options and seek training assistance for possible employment
venture and serve as referral and information center for the various services and
programs being provided by the DOLE and other government agenci 2s with respect
to the welfare and employment of persons with disabilities.

Through these employment opportunities being provided by the State, we will
not only help boost the Person with Disabilities’ self confidence, but also enable them
to be self-relia xt and productive members of the community.

Given tie importance of promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to
decent work, the early passage of this bill is eamestly requested

Rep. ESTRELLITA “GING” 3. SUANSING
1° District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2788

H. No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION SERVICE
NETWORK FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) EMPLOYMENT
FACILITATION OFFICE 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 "Persons With
Disability Employment Facilitation Office (PWDEFO) Act of 2013."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to promote
employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and strengthen existing
employment facilitation service machinery of the government for persons with
disability, particularly at the local levels.

SEC. 3. Establishment of the Persons With Disability (PWD)Employment
Facilitation Office. - There is hereby established in all capital towns of provinces,
key cities and other strategic areas a Persons With Disability (PDW) Employment
Facilitation Office (PWDEFO), hereinafter referred to as "PWDEFO," which shall be
community-based and maintained largely by local government units (LGUs) and a
number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or community-based
organizations (CBOs).

The PWDEFO shall be linked to 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 PWDEFO. - The Persons With Disability (PWD)
Employment Facilitation Office shall ensure the prompt, appropricte, and timely
employment facilitation service for persons with disability and the provision of
relevant information, education and communication (IEC) materials for the benefits of
the PWDs seeking for productive employment opportunities.

Specifically, the PWDEFO shall:

(a) Provide a venue where PWDs 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;

©) Provide PWDs with sufficient information on employment opportunities and
labor market situation in the area; and

(4) Network with other PWDEFOs within the province and/or region on
employment opportunities for PWDs.

SEC. 5. Functions of the PWDEFO. - The PWDEFO shall have the following
functions:

(a) Encourage employers to submit to the PWDEFO on a regular basis a list
of job vacancies available for persons with disabilities in their respective
establishments in order to facilitate the exchange of labor market information
between PWDs who seeks employment and employers by providing employment
information services to PWDs job seekers, and recruitment assistance to employers;

(b) Develop training modules for PWDs in order to improve their skills and
comply with the skills requirements of the employer;

(c) Provide PWDs with access to the various livelihood and self-employment
programs offered by both government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
at the provincial/city / municipal / barangay levels by undertaking referrals for such
programs;

(d) Undertake employability enhancement trainings/seminars for PWDs, as
well as those PWDs who would like to enhance their employability;

(e) Provide occupational counseling, career guidance, mass motivation and
values development activities to PWDs;

(f) Conduct pre-employment counseling and orientation to PWDs;

(g) Provide reintegration assistance services to PWDs who are retrenched or
terminated; and


(h) Perform such functions as willfully carry out the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 6. Other Services of the PWDEFO. - In addition to the functions
enumerated in the preceding section, every PWDEFO shall also undertake the
following programs and activities:

(a) Jobs Fairs - These shall be conducted periodically all over the country
to bring together in one venue PWD job seekers and employers for
immediate matching;

(b) Livelihood and Self-Employment Bazaars - These will give the
PWDs information on the wide array of livelihood programs they
choose to avail of, particularly in the rural areas;

(c) Work Appreciation Program (WAP) - This program aims to develop
the values of work appreciation and ethics by exposing the PWDS to
actual work situations; and

(d) Other programs/activities developed by DOLE to enhance provision of
employment assistance to PWDs, particularly for special groups of
disadvantaged workers.

SEC. 7. Role of DOLE and LGUs and NGOs. - Upon the request of the
LGUs and NGOs which do not have existing PWDEFOs, the establishment,
operation and maintenance of PWDEFOs shall be undertaken by the DOLE. The
DOLE shall enter into memoranda of agreements (MOA) with the concerned LGUs
and NGOs for the establishment, operation and maintenance of PWDEFO in their
respective areas of jurisdiction, and the institutionalization of existing PWDEFOs.

It shall be the responsibility of the DOLE to:

(a) Establish and maintain a computerized PWDs manpower registry of skills
and employment and business opportunities to facilitate the provision and packaging
of employment assistance to PWD clients and the setting-up of regional job
clearance systems as part of the overall employment network;

(b) Provide office space, equipment and/or supplies, as well as the necessary
personnel complement to manage, operate and maintain the PWDEFO;

(c) Designate, in consultation with the LGU or NGO concerned, a qualified
project manager and/or key personnel who shall be responsible for the operation and
management of the PWDEFO;

(d) Provide technical assistance and allied support services to the PWDEFO;

(e) Train PWDEFO personnel in the various aspects of employment
facilitation functions;


(f) Extend/facilitate such other package of employment services to
theprovision of employment assistance to PWD clients of the LGU or NGO
concerned, including the conduct of jobs fairs and other activities; and

(g) Undertake, monitor, assess and evaluate the PWDEFO
programimplementation.

SEC. 8. Administration of the PWDEFO Program. - The DOLE shall be
primarily responsible for the administration of the PWDEFO Program through its
Bureau of Local Employment, 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), Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) 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, shelf 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. 9. Conduct of an Annual Nationwide Disability Prevalence Survey. -
Realizing the need to develop a system of reliable information on disability, the
Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Labor and
Employment) and the National Council on the Welfare of Disabled Persons, is
hereby mandated to conduct an annual Nationwide Disability Prevalence Survey.

The objectives of the Annual Nationwide Disability Prevalence Survey shall
include the following:

1. to determine the prevalence of disability in the country in general and inthe
various regions of the country in particular;

2. to determine the distribution of disability in the country and the various
regions with respect to age, sex and type of disability; and

3. to determine the status of rehabilitation and the rehabilitation needs of
PWD in the country.

SEC. 10. Funding. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the existing appropriation of the DOLE and its other
operating agencies. Thereafter, the amounts needed for the full implementation of
this Act shall be included in the budget of the DOLE in the succeeding General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent herewith are hereby deemed
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section or provision of
this Act or any part thereof, or the application of such section, provision or portion is


declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof shall not be affected by
such declaration.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,