Quezon City to hire 300 PWDs

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has launched a program to employ more persons with disabilities (PWDs) as part of the city’s commitment to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities to the most vulnerable sectors of society.

Under the “Kasama ka sa Kyusi: Ang taong may kapansanan ay may karapatan at kakayahan” program, the local government will hire 300 PWDs who will be assigned to different city departments and offices.

“The city government understands the hardships of PWDs, especially in looking for permanent and decent jobs. That’s why through this program, we will ensure that opportunities will be open to them, depending on their competencies and talents,” Belmonte said in Filipino.

To jumpstart the program, the city government initially took in a total of 100 PWDs. They underwent interviews and job assessment by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) and Public Employment Service Office.

After evaluation, the applicants will be assigned to city departments based on their skills and capabilities.

Belmonte said PWDs who perform well would be hired either as contractual or permanent city government employees.

City hall also distributed devices such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, canes, wheelchairs and walkers to PWDs. They also received social welfare assistance, livelihood training and urban farming starter kits.

Data from the PDAO showed that 14 percent or 7,620 of the 54,000 registered PWDS in the city aged 18 to 59 were unemployed as of July.

To date, the city government has 253 contractual, job order and permanent employees belonging to the PWD sector, representing 1.2 percent of its 17,000 total workforce.

Under Republic Act 10524 or an Act Expanding the Positions Reserved for Persons with Disability, at least one percent of all positions in all government agencies, offices or corporations should be allotted for PWDs.

“The city government serves as an example to other government agencies and even to private sectors in giving jobs to PWDs. Their disabilities should not be considered a hindrance in becoming productive citizens. They just need to be given an opportunity to show what they can do,” Belmonte said.

The city’s Business Permits and Licensing Department is set to organize an Inclusivity Summit to encourage the private sector to hire more PWDs in their workforce.

Several private establishments in the city are employing PWDs, such as HisBeans Café, Cabalen Group, Shakeys, Pancake House, Overdoughs, Concentrix and SM Malls.

“Other companies and establishments have coordinated with the city to be part of this program,” Belmonte said.

“The local government will continue to craft more programs and activities to ensure that no one will be left behind and that all will benefit from the city’s progress,” PDAO officer-in-charge Deborah Dacanay said.