By Brian Campued
“We look at their abilities, not their disability.”
Marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) this Dec. 3, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) formally launched its comprehensive guidelines on inclusive employment—in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that no Filipino would be left behind in the path towards a “Bagong Pilipinas”.
The Administrative Order (AO) No. 11, series of 2025, which Sec. Rex Gatchalian signed on Nov. 10, ensuring that at least 1% of all regular and non-regular positions across the DSWD Central Office and Field Offices are reserved for PWDs.
“Laging sinasabi ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na dapat walang maiiwanan sa pag-unlad. Isa sa mga utos ng ating Pangulo ang siguraduhin na mabigyan ng tama at sapat na tulong at serbisyo ang sektor ng PWDs para sila ay makabasay sa development,” Gatchalian said during the launch of the AO at the DSWD Central Office on Wednesday.
“With the launching of the AO 11 series of 2025 we are institutionalizing the inclusive employment of PWDs here in the DSWD.”
The DSWD’s AO 11 is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 10524 or “An Act Expanding the Positions Reserved for Persons with Disability, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as Magna Carta for Persons with Disability,” and its implementing rules and regulations.
The AO will strengthen the recruitment, selection, and placement processes for PWD applicants, ensuring that they are assessed solely on the basis of qualifications, standards, and merit.
It also capacitates Human Resource officers and Human Resource Merits, Promotions, and Selection Board members through reorientation and regular training, including sign language and the use of auxiliary assistive devices, to make sure that they properly take the lead in the promotion of an inclusive and accessible work environment.
The DSWD will also collaborate with disability-focused organizations, such as non-government organizations, vocational rehabilitation centers, and Public Employment Service Offices (PESO), to broaden the pool of qualified applicants.
As the lead agency that advocates for equal and inclusive opportunities for PWDs, Gatchalian stressed that the rollout of the AO is not just a form of tokenism, symbolic gesture, or compliance.
“These are real plantilla positions carved for them because we believe that PWDs deserve a rightful place in [the] government workforce—dahil sila ang nagpapatunay na hindi hadlang ang kapansanan para makapaglingkod sa bayan,” the DSWD chief said.
He noted that as of Sept. 30 this year, at least 411 or 1.01% of the total 40,828 Angels in Red Vests of the agency are considered PWDs and part of the DSWD community.
“Pero kulang pa ‘yan, mas paiigtingin pa natin para hindi lang 1% ng regular at non-regular positions sa departamento ang nakalaan para sa PWDs,” Gatchalian said, adding that he will personally lobby with the President to mandate all departments to adopt the AO and make it a national policy.
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