.. 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
JUL 21 
P 2 :30 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 231 4 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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 NATIONWIDE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution, specifically Article XIII, Section 3 provides that the State 
''shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and 
unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment 
opportunities for all:' 
This bill seeks to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities 
(PWDs) and strengthen existing employment facilitation service machinery of the 
government for persons with disability, particularly at the local levels. It likewise 
seeks to establish in all capital towns of provinces, key cities and other strategic 
areas nationwide 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-government organizations 
(NGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs). 
Said office shall ensure prompt, appropriate and timely employment facilitation . 
service for persons with disability arid the provision of relevant information, 
education and communication (IEC) materials for the benefit of the PWDs 
seeking for productive employment opportunities. 
This measure is a counterpart of a bill filed by Congresswoman Estrellita "Ging' B. 
Guansing in the House of Representatives,The immediate passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'111 
JUL 21 
P 2 :30 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2314 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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 NATIONWIDE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Persons With 
2 
Disability Employment Facilitation Office (PWDEFO) Act of 2014". 
3 
4 
5 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared a policy of the State to promote 
6 
employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and strengthen existing 
7 
employment facilitation service machinery of the govemment for persons with 
8 
disability, particularly at the local levels. 
9 
10 
11 
SEC. 3. Establishment of the Persons With Disability (PWD) Employment 
12. Facilitation Office. - There is hereby established in all capital towns of provinces, 
13 
key cities and other strategic areas, a Persons With Disability (PWD) 
14 
Employment 
Facilitation 
Office 
(PWDEFO), 
hereinafter 
referred 
to 
as 
15 
"PWDEFO," which shall be community-based and maintained largely by local 
16 
government units (L.GUs) and a number of non-govemment organizations 
17 
(NGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs). 
18 
19 
The PWDEFO shall be linked to the regional offices of the Department of Labor 
20 
and Employment (DOLE) for coordination and technical supervision, and to the 
21 
DOLE Central office, to constitute the national employment service network. 
22 
23 
24 
SEC. 4. Objectives of the PWDEFO. -
The Persons With Disability (PWD) 
25 
Employment Facilitation Office shall ensure the prompt, appropriate and timely 
26 
employment facilitation service for persons with disability and the provision of 
27 
relevant information, education and communication (IEC) materials for the 
28 
benefits of the PWDs seeking for productive employment opportunities. 
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30 
Specifically, the PWDEFO shall: 


1 
a) Provide a venue where PWDs could find and explore various employment 
2 
options and seek training assistance for possible employment venture; 
3 
4 
b) Serve as a referral and information center for various services and 
5 
programs being provided by the DOLE and other governrnent agencies 
6 
with respect to the welfare and employment of PWDs; 
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8 
c) Provide PWDs with sufficient information on employment opportunities 
9 
and labor market situation in the area; and 
10 
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d) Network with other PWDEFOs within the province and/or region on 
12 
employment opportunities for PWDs. 
13 
14 
IS 
SEC. 5. Functions of the PWOEFO. - The PWDEFO shall have the following 
16 
functions: 
17 
18 
a) Encourage employers to submit to the PWDEFO on a regular basis a list 
19 
of job vacancies available for persons with disabilities in their respective 
20 
establishments in order to facilitate the exchange of labor market 
21 
information between PWDs who seek employment and employers by 
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providing employment information services to PWDs job seekers and 
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recruitment assistance to employers; 
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b) Develop training modules for PWDs in order to improve their skills and 
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comply with the skills requirements of the employer; 
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c) Provide PWDs with access to the various livelihood and self-employment 
29 
programs offered by both government and non-government organizations 
30 
(NGOs) at the provincial/city/municipal/barangay levels by undertaking 
31 
referrals for such programs; 
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d) Undertake employability enhancement trainings/seminars for PWDs, as 
34 
well as those PWDs who would like to enhance their employability; 
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e) Provide occupational counseling, career guidance, mass motivation and 
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values development activities for PWDs; 
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f) Conduct pre-employment counseling and orientation to PWDs; 
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g) Provide reintegration assistance services to PWDs who are retrenched or 
42 
terminated; and 
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h) Perform such functions as willfully carry out the objectives of this Act; 
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SEC.6. Other Services of the PWOEFO. -
In addition to the functions 
48 
enumerated in the pr'eceding section, every PWDEFO shall also undertake the 
49 
following programs and activities: 
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a) Job Fairs - These shall be conducted periodically all over the country to 
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bring together in one venue PWD job seekers and employers for 
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immediate matching; 
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b) Livelihood and Self-Employment Bazaars -
These will give the PWDs 
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information on the wide array of livelihood programs they choose to avail 
57 
of, particularly in rural areas; 
2 


1 
C) Work Appreciation Program (WAP) - This program aims to develop the 
2 
values of work appreciation and ethics by exposing the PWDs to actual 
3 
work situations; and 
4 
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d) Other programs/activities developed by DOLE to enhance provIsion of 
6 
employment assistance to PWDs, particularly for special groups of 
7 
disadvantaged workers. 
8 
9 
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SEC. 7. Role of DOL.E and LGUs and NGOs. - Upon the request of the LGUs 
11 
and NGOs which do not have existing PWDEFOs, the establishment, operation 
12 
and maintenance of PWDEFOs shall be undertaken by the DOLE. The DOLE 
13 
shall enter into memoranda of agreements (MOA) with the concerned LGUs and 
14 
NGOs for the establishment, operation and maintenance of PWDEFO in their 
15 
respective areas of jurisdiction, and the institutionalization of existing PWDEFOs. 
16 
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It shall be the responsibility of the DOLE to: 
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a) Establish and maintain a computerized PWDs manpower registry of skills 
20 
and employment and business opportunities to facilitate the provision and 
21 
packaging of employment assistance to PWD clients and the setting-up of 
22 
regional job clearance systems as part of the overall employment network; 
23 
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b) Provide office space, equipment and/or supplies, as well as the necessary 
25 
personnel complement to manage, operate and maintain the PWDEFO; 
26 
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c) Designate, in consultation with the LGU or NGO concerned, a qualified 
28 
project manager and/or key personnel who shall be responsible for the 
29 
operation and management of the PWDEFO; 
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d) Provide technical assistance and allied support services to the PWDEFO; 
32 
33 . 
e) Train PWDEFO personnel in the various aspects of employment 
34 
facilitation functions; 
35 
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f) Extend/facilitate such other package of employment services to the 
37 
provision of employment assistance to PWD clients of the LGU or NGO 
38 
concerned, including the conduct of job fairs and other activities; and 
39 
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g) Undertake, monitor, assess and evaluate the PWDEFO program 
41 
implementation. 
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SEC. 8. Administration of the PWDEFO Program. - The DOLE shall be primarily 
45 
responsible for the administration of the PWDEFO Program through its Bureau of 
46 
Local Employment, as well as its regional offices throughout the country. The 
47 
Secretary of Labor and Employment, in coordination with the Department of 
48 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and 
49 
Development (DSWD) and in consultation with the presidents of the various local 
50 
government leagues, namely the League of Provinces, the League of Cities, the 
51 
League of Municipalities and the League of Barangays, shall accordingly 
52 
promulgate, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the necessary 
53 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Program. 
54 
SEC. 9. Conduct of an Annual Nationwide Disability Prevalence Survey. -
55 
Realizing the need to develop a system of reliable information on disability, the 
56 
Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the DOLE and the National 
3 


, 
.. 
1 
Council on the Welfare of Disabled Persons, is hereby mandated to conduct an 
2 
annual Nationwide Disability Prevalence Survey. 
3 
4 
The objectives of the Annual Nationwide Disability Prevalence Survey shall 
5 
include the following: 
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1) To determine the prevalence of disability in the country in general and in 
8 
the various regions of the country in particular; 
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2) To determine the distribution of disability in the country and the various 
11 
regions with respect to age, sex and type of disability; and 
12 
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3) To determine the status of rehabilitation and the rehabilitation needs of 
14 
PWD in the country. 
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SEC. 10. Funding. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this 
18 
Act shall be charged against the existing appropriation of the DOLE and its other 
19 
operating agencies. Thereafter, the amounts needed for the full implementation 
20 
of this Act shall be included in the budget of the DOLE in the succeeding General 
21 
Appropriations Act. 
22 
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SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be 
25 
found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such 
26 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
27 
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SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent 
30 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
31 
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SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
34 
following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
4