Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 6223

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 Intemational Conference on Legislation Conceming the
Disabled Persons organized by the Rehabilitation Intemational'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
Conceming 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 Big. 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 goverment units (LGUs) and a number of
non-govemmental organizations (NGOs) of 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 (EC) 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

GLORIA hervian ARROYO

eamestly sought.

\

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur

Second District, Pampanga

wo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

3223

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 shail be known as the “Persons With
Disability (PWD) Employment Facilitation Office Act of 2011."

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 emptoyment 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) materiafs for the
benefits of the PWDs seeking for productive employment opportunities.

Specifically, the PWDEFO shall:

(a) Provide a venue where PWDs could find and expiore 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
fespective 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
fecruitment assistance to employers;

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

() Provide PWDs with access to the various fivelinood and self-
employment programs offered by both government and non-govemmental
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

(b) Perform such functions as to wilffully 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 aiso 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 wilt 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 programs/activities developed by DOLE to enhance provision of
employment assistance to PWDs, paticularly 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 institutionatization of existing
PWDEFOs.

It shail 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 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;

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

(f) Extendfacilitate such other package of employment services to the
provision of employment assistance to PWD clients of the LGU or NGO
concemed, 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 regionat 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 govemment 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 Nationat 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 40. 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 Generat Appropriations Act.

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

SECTION 12. Separabilty 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,