MANILA — The Quezon City Council on Thursday passed a resolution urging the city government to implement Republic Act (RA) No. 10524, the law that expands positions reserved for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Currently, the Quezon City government has about 14,000 employees, 100 of whom are PWDs.
City Resolution 7380-2018, which was authored by Councilor Lena Marie Juico, is in compliance with RA 10524, which requires an allotment of at least 1 percent of all regular and non-regular positions in all government agencies, offices, or corporations to PWDs.
The same law also urges private companies with more than 100 employees to reserve at least 1 percent of all work positions for PWDs.
“Masayang-masaya ako na makapagtrabaho dito sa City Hall. Bilang isang PWD, hindi natin maitatago na napakahirap maghanap ng trabaho (I’m very happy that I’m working here at City Hall. As a PWD, we couldn’t hide the fact that it is difficult for us to look for a job),” Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) staff member, Jeffrey Alipio, said in an interview on Thursday.
“Iniisip din ng ibang kompanya na baka maging hindrance ‘yun para maging productive, pero sa pamamagitan ng Quezon City Hall,napapakita ko na kahit isa akong PWD, pwede rin akong magtrabaho at pwede rin akong mamuhay gaya ng ibang tao (Other companies are also thinking that it may be a hindrance to become productive, but through the Quezon City Hall, I’m able to show that even if I’m a PWD, I could also work and I can also live a normal life like the other people),” Alipio added.
The Philippine government as a state-party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is required to promote, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by PWDs and ensure that PWDs experience full equality under laws.
“Republic Act No. 7277 has been adopted to ensure rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of Persons with Disabilities. Toward this end, the State endeavors to develop their skills and potentials to enable them to compete favorably for available opportunities,” the city resolution said. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
