Republic of the Philippines _// .,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f\ 7
Quezon City 2

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3046

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our government has always been and remains to be active in addressing and
improving the plight of our Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). As early as 1917, the
Philippine government along with various NGOs made a concerted effort to rehabilitate
and make life better for this marginalized sector. Our country also hosted the Second
International Conference on Legislation Concerning the Disabled Persons organized by
the Rehabilitation International's national affiliate, the Philippine Foundation for the
Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons (PFRD) last January 16, 1978. During the said
conference, former President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1509
creating the National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons (NCCDP). This
Commission was tasked to prepare and adopt an integrated and comprehensive long-
term National Rehabilitation Plan (NRP).

Earlier Congresses have also enacted various laws pertaining to the welfare of
disabled persons including: (a) Republic Act No. 9442, otherwise known as the
"Amendment to the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons" (b) Republic Act No. 7277,
otherwise known as "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons"; and (c) Batas Pambansa Blg.
344, otherwise known as the "Accessibility Law". Our government is also a signatory to.
ILO Convention No. 159, otherwise known as the "Convention on Vocational
Rehabilitation of Persons With Disability”.


The United Nations, as a prime mover of the PWD cause in the global arena, 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) which was
evident in their proclamation of the "Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons from
1903 to 2002” and its extension for another decade from 2003-2012.

This proposed bill seeks to help in such a noble cause by promoting employment
opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and strengthening 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 (PWD)
Employment Facilitation Office" 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). This 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 PWDs seeking 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 ventures
and 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 persons with disabilities

Basing the definition of disability as defined by the World Health Organization
(WHO). it refers to any restriction or lack of ability (resulting from impairment) to perform
an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.
Impairments associated with disabilities may be physical, mental or sensory motor
impairment such as partial or total blindness and deafness, muteness, speech defect,
orthopedic handicaps, and mental retardation. The categories of disability used almost
in all surveys include total blindness, partial blindness, low vision, total deafness, partial
deafness, hard of hearing, oral defect, one hand, no hands, no legs, quadriplegic
(regular), quadriplegic (severe), retarded (regular), retarded (severe), multiple
impairment (regular) and multiple impairment (severe).

Through these employment opportunities being provided by the State, we will not
only help boost the self-confidence of our PWDs, but also enable them to be self-reliant
and productive members of their respective communities.

Given the importance of this proposal, its early passage into law is earnestly
sought.

DIOSDADO AGAL ARROYO ssonlCeonens ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3046

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

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 (PWD) Employment Facilitation Office Act of 2013."

SECTION 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

SECTION 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 (PWD) Employment
Facilitation Office, 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 (PWD)
Employment Facilitation 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 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;

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

(d) 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) 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 seek 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;


(€) 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 to 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;

(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

(f) Other programsj/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 (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;


(©) Designate, in consultation with the LGU or NGO concemed, 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;

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

(f) Extendifacilitate such other package of employment services to 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 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, 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 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 in the
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.


SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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,