FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
•. , 
SENATE 
10 
JUL -8 All:36 
S. No. 980 f"{~::iVr·:" 
.... ·f·-·· 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Based on historical accounts our government's concern for the welfare of 
persons with disabilities (PWDs) began as early as 1917 and the national concern for 
rehabilitation was manifested by non-government organizations as well. On January 16, 
1978, our country 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). 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). 
Our country has 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) Balas 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". 
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. 
This proposed measure seeks to promote the 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. 
This measure seeks to established in all capital towns of provinces, key cities and other 
strategic areas a "Persons With Disability (PDW) 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 benefits 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 DOLE and other government agencies with respect to the welfare and 
employment of persons with disabilities. 
Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) definition on disability, the term 
"disability" 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 Person with Disabilities' self confidence, but also enable them to be 
self-reliant ahd productive members of the community. 
Given the importance of promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to 
decent work, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MAN 
"LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) I 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
JUL -8 m1 :3' 
SENATE 
980 
S.No. __ _ 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
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 2010." 
SEC. 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 govemment for persons with disability, 
particularly at the local levels. 
SEC. 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 (POW) 
Employment Facilitation Office, hereinafter referred to as "PWDEFO," which shall be 
community-based and maintained largely by local govemment units (LGUs) and a 
number of non-govemmental 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. 
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SEC. 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 (lEG) 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 af.1d 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. 
SEC. 5. 
following functions: 
Functions of the PWDEFO. -
The PWDEFO shall have the 
(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 
seeks 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 training~/seminars for PWDs, as 
well as those PWDs who would like to enhance their employability; 
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(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 
(h) 
Perform such functions as willfully carry out the objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 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 programs/activities developed by DOLE to enhance provision of 
employment assistance to PWDs, particularly for special groups of 
disadvantaged workers. 
SEC. 7. 
Role of DOLE and 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 
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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 shalf 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 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. 
SEC. 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, shalf accordingly promulgate, within ninety 
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective imp.lementation of the Program. 
SEC. 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: 
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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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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, 
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