Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, £092

Introduced by Representatives
HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR. and ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FACILITATI
SERVICE NETWORK FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERSONS WITH DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
FACILITATION OFFICE IN EVERY PROVINCE, KEY CITY AND OTHER
STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the duty of the State to promote equal employment opportunities for all. The 1987
Philippine Constitution 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.”

The Constitution also mandates Congress to give highest priority to the enactment of
measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity and that reduce
social, economic and political inequalities.

To protect the welfare of persons with disabilities, Congress enacted Batas Pambansa Blg
344 (1982), otherwise known as the “Accessibility Law”. In 1991, Republic Act No. 7277 or
the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was promulgated, providing for the rehabilitation, self-
development, and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration. The benefits and
privileges granted by the said law was subsequently expanded through the enactment of its
amendatory laws, Republic Act Nos. 9442 and 10754. The Philippine Government is also a
signatory to the ILO Convention No. 159, otherwise known as the “Convention on
Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability”.

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 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, which emphasized a paradigm shift from a
charity-based approach to a rights-based approach to disability.

In accordance with the measures mentioned above, this bill seeks to promote employment
opportunities for persons with disability (PWDs) and strengthen the government's existing
employment facilitation service machinery for PWDs, particularly at the local level.
Specifically, this measure aims to establish a “Person with Disability Employment
Facilitation Office (PWDEFO)” in all capital towns of provinces, key cities and other


strategic areas, 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 said Office shall ensure prompt, appropriate and timely
employment facilitation services 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 will
serve as a referral and information center for the various services and programs being
provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other government
agencies with respect to the welfare and employment of PWDs.

Through the employment opportunities provided by the State, we will aid not only with
boosting the self-confidence of PWDs, but also with enabling them to become independent
and productive members of our society.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is eamestly sought."

HORAC! UANSING, JR. ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING
2" Distrioof Sultan Kudarat 1* District of Sultan Kudjrat

' This bill was filed by Rep. Horacio P. Suansing, Jr. and Rep. Estrellita B. Suansing in the 16" Congress and,
17 Congress.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1092

Introduced by Representatives
HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR. and ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION
SERVICE NETWORK FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERSONS WITH DISABILITY 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
Employment Facilitation Office (PWDEFO) Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is a declared policy of the State to promote
employment opportunities for persons with disability 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 Employment Facilitation Office
(PWDEFO). ~ There is hereby established in all capital towns of provinces, key and
other strategic area a Person with Disability Employment Facilitation Office (PWDEFO),
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 Employment
Facilitation Office shall endure 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


SECTION 5.
functions:
a.

h.

Provide a venue where PWDs could find and explore various employment
options and seek training assistance for possible employment venture;

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;

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

Network with other PWDEFOs within the province and/or region on
employment opportunities for PWDs.

Functions of the PWDEFO. — The PWDEFO shall have the following

Encourage employers to submit to the PWDEFO on a regular basis a list of job
vacancies available for persons with disability in their respective
establishments in order to facilitate the exchange of labor market information
between PWDs who seck employment and employers by providing
employment information services to PWDs jobseekers and recruitment
assistance to employers;

Develop training modules for PWDs in order to improve their skills and
comply with the skills requirement of the employer;

Provide PWDs with access to the various livelihood and self-employment
programs offered by both government and non-government organizations
(NGOs) at the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels by undertaking
referrals for such programs;

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;

Conduct pre-employment counseling and orientation to PWDs;

Provide reintegration assistance services to PWDs who are retrenched or
terminated; and

Perform such functions as willfully carry out the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 6. Other Services of the PWDEFO. — \n addition to the functions enumerated in

the preceding
activities:
a.

Section, every PWDEFO shall also undertake the following programs and

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;

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

4. Other programs/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 (MOAs) 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 netwo

b. Provide office space, equipment and/or supplies, as well as the necessary
personnel complement to manage, operate and maintain the PVDEFO;

c. Designate, in consultation with the LGU or NGO concerned, 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 Extend/facilitate such other package of employment services through 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 though the 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 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 DOLE, 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:

a. To determine the prevalence of disability in the country in general and in the
various regions of the country in particular;

b. To determine the distribution of disability in the country and the various
regions with respect to age, sex, and type of disability; and

¢. To determine the status of rehabilitation and the rehabilitation needs of PWDs
in the country.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the existing appropriations 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 annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,