HOUSE OF REPRESENTA’
Quezon City, Metro Mar

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No, 1997

Introduced by Representative Midy N. Cua
Lone District, Quirino

AN ACT GRANTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) A JOBSEEKER'S
ALLOWANCE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under Article XII. Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, the State shall prioritize the needs of the
disabled. In lieu of this. Republic Act No. 7277. otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Disabled
Persons” was enacted in 1992 to provide persons with disability (PW D) equal oppertunity. Under the
law, the state is tasked to exert all effort to remove barriers prejudicial to PWDs.

Since then. several measures have been passed to assist PWDs in securing employment, Republic Act
No. 9442 provides a twenty percent (20%) discount on services while Republic Act No. 10524 expands
the positions reserved for PWDs in government agencies and private corporations.

The proposed measure strengthens government's commitment to ensure equal opportunity. It acklresses
barriers to entry into the workforce by easing the financial burden on PWDs secking employment
opportunities. While training and counseling services are offered freely by government azencies.
access to these may entail out-of-pocket costs for items such as food and transport

In view of the foregoing. immediate approval of this bill is requested

representative
fe District, Quirino


Republic of the Phi
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bilt No._ 1997

Introduced by Representative Midy N. Cua
Lone District, Quirino

AN ACT GRANTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) A JOBSEEKER’
ALLOWANCE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Jobseeker's Allowance. — Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows

1
2

3

4 “SEC 10. Vocational Guidance and Counseling. The Department of Social Welfare and
5 Development shall implement measures providing and evaluating vocational guidance and
6 counseling to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment. It shall
7 ensure the availability and training counselors and other suitability qualified staff responsible
8

for the vocational guidance and counseling of disabled persons.

9
10 UNEMPLOYED PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, WHO AVAIL OF VOCATIONAL
NW GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES FROM ANY NATIONAL
12 GOVERNMENT AGENCY, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY STIPEND
13 AMOUNTING TO NOT LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP500.00). THE
14 STIPEND IS INTENDED TO DEFRAY PART OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN
15 RELATION TO TRAINING AND JOB SEARCH.

16
7 NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT OFFER VOCATIONAL
18 GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
19 SHALL ENDORSE THEIR PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES TO THE DEPARTMENT
20 OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH SHALL OVERSEE THE
2 DISTRIBUTION OF THE STIPEND.

22

23 PROVIDED, THAT THE MONTHLY STIPEND SHALL ONLY COVER THE FIRST
24 THREE MONTHS SINCE THE START OF THE VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE OR
25 COUNSELING SERVICE AVAILED. PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE STI

26 CAN ONLY BE GRANTED TO AN UNEMPLOYED PERSON WITH DISABILITY
27 ONCE A YEAR.”

28

29 Section 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Social Welfare and Development
30 (DSWD), in coordination with the National Council on Disability Affairs. shall formulate the rules and
31 regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within three (3) months of its effectivity


Section 3. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be
charged against the current appropriations of the DSWD. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

Section 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 5. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid,
other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 6. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifleen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,