© skeid SENTATIVES:
Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI DATE: 26 JUL 2016
Quezon City -
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY:
First Regular Session
1972 REGISTRATION UNIT
House Bill No. BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Existing in a most imperfect world is one 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 that 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’ plight and welfare; be they through laws, executive orders and even civic-
oriented projects and programs.

Philippine history recalls that our government's concern for the welfare of
persons with disability (PWDs) began as early as 1917. The national concern for
rehabilitation was manifested by non-government organizations as well. On January
16, 1978, our country hosted the Second International Conference in Legislation
Concerning the Disabled Persons organized by the Rehabilitation International’s
national affiliate, 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).

Moreover, legislative records are replete with various laws pertaining to the
protection of the welfare of disabled persons including: a) Batas Pambansa Big. 344,
otherwise known as the “Accessibility Law”; b) Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise
known as the “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 Philippine 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 world 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 disability (PWDs) and strengthen existing
employment facilitation service machinery of the government for PWDs, particularly
at the local levels. This measure seeks to establish in all capital towns of provinces,
key cities, and other strategic areas a “Person 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 shall
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 PWDs seeking for productive
employment opportunities.

‘The PWDEFO 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 Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other
government agencies with respect to the welfare and employment of PWDs.

‘Through these employment opportunities being provided by the State, we will
help not only boost the PWDs'’ self confidence, but also enable them to be self-reliant
and become productive members of the community.

Given the importance of promoting the rights of PWDs to decent work, the
immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

‘A B. SUANSIN woracpt SUANSING, JR.

1s District, Nueva Ecija 2n4 District, Nueva Ecija

* This bill is a re-file of House Bill No. 2788 filed during the 16% Congress.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1972

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION SERVICE
NETWORK FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERSONS WITH DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
FACILITAITON 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.”

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

SECTION 3. Establishment of the Persons with Disability Employment
Facilitation Office (PWDEFO). - There is hereby established in all capital towns of
provinces, key cities and other strategic area a Person with Disability 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.

SECTION 4. Objectives of the PWDEFO. - The Persons with Disability
Employment Facilitation Office shall endure 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 benefits
of the PWDs seeking for productive employment opportunities.

Specifically, the PWDEFO shall:


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Provide a venue where PWDs could find and explore various
employment options and seek training assistance for possible
employment venture;

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

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

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

a.

h.

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

Develop training modules for PWDs in order to improve their skills and
comply with the skills requirement of the employer;

Provide PWDs 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;

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

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

Conduct pre-employment counseling and orientation to PWDs;

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

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

SECTION 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;


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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.

SECTION 7. Role of DOLE, 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 (MOAs) 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 PVDEFOs.

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 through
the provision 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 program
implementation.

SECTION 8. Administration of the PWDEFO Program. - The DOLE shall
be primarily responsible for the administration of the PWDEFO Program though the
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
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and in consultation with the presidents of the various local


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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.

SECTION 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 DOLE, 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:

a, To determine the prevalence of disability in the country in general and
in the various regions of the country in particular;

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

¢. To determine the status of rehabilitation and the rehabilitation needs of
PWDs in the country.

SECTION 10. 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
full implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the DOLE in the
succeeding annual General Appropriations Act

SECTION 11. 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.

SECTION 12. 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.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,