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 opportunity to the most vulnerable sectors of society.
Under the “Kasama Ka sa Kyusi: Ang Taong May Kapansanan ay May Karapatan at Kakayahan” initiative, the city government will hire 300 PWDs assigned to different departments and offices.
“Batid ng lokal na pamahalaan ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga kapatid nating may kapansanan lalo na sa paghahanap ng permanente at disenteng trabaho. Kaya sa pamamagitan ng programang ito, titiyakin natin na mas maraming magbukas na oportunidad para sa kanila na nakaayon din sa kanilang galing at talento,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Data from the QC Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) revealed that 14 percent, or 7,620 of the 54,000 registered Persons with Disabilities aged 18 to 59, are unemployed as of July 2023.
Presently, the city government has 253 contractual, job order, and permanent employees belonging to the PWD sector, representing 1.2 percent of its total workforce of 17,000. Under Republic Act No. 10524 or the Act Expanding the Positions Reserved for Persons with Disability, at least one percent of all positions in all government agencies, offices, or corporations allotted for PWDs.
“Ang QC Government ang mangunguna at magsisilbing halimbawa sa iba pang government agencies at maging sa pribadong sektor sa pagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga PWD. Hindi hadlang ang kanilang kapansanan para maging produktibong mamamayan. Kailangan lang nila ng break o pagkakataon para mapatunayan ang kaya nilang gawin,” Belmonte added.
The city government took in 100 PWDs to jumpstart the Kasama Ka program. They underwent interviews and job assessments by the PDAO and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
After evaluation, the applicants will be assigned to city departments based on their skills and capabilities.
According to Mayor Belmonte, PWDs who perform well will receive a contract of service or permanent QCG employees.
Apart from employment, the city government is also distributing assistive devices such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, canes, wheelchairs, and walkers. PWDs also received social welfare assistance, livelihood training, and urban farming starter kits.
The QC Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) is also organizing an Inclusivity Summit to encourage the private sector to hire more persons with disabilities in their workforce.
Several private establishments in the city already employ PWDs, like HisBeans Café, Cabalen Group, Shakeys, Pancake House, Overdoughs, Concentrix, and SM Malls. Other companies and establishments have already coordinated with the city to be part of this program.
“Patuloy na bumubuo ng iba-ibang programa ang pamahalaang lungsod, sa pangunguna ng PDAO, para masigurong walang naiiwan, at kasama ang lahat sa pag-unlad sa QC,” QC PDAO OIC Deborah Dacanay said.