Employment office for PWDS proposed

To maximize the potentials of persons with disabilities (PWDs), the House of Representatives is considering the proposed establishment of a “Persons with Disability Employment Facilitation Office” (PWDEFO) throughout the country.

Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo filed House Bill 6223, which seeks to institutionalize “a national employment facilitation service network in every province, key cities and other strategic areas in the country.”

The measure was co-authored by his mother, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The PWDEFO will provide a venue where PWDs could find and explore various employment options and seek training assistance for possible employment ventures and serve as referral and information center for the various services and programs being pro- by the Department of Labor and Employment and other agencies, Arroyo said.

“Through these employment opportunities being provided by the State, we will not only help boost the self confidence of our PWDs, but also enable them to be self-reliant and productive members of their respective communities,” Arroyo said.

“This bill seeks to help in such a noble cause by promoting employment opportunities for PWDs and strengthening the existing employment facilitation service machinery of the government, particularly in the local levels,” he said.

The measure seeks to establish in all capital towns of provinces, cities and other strategic areas the PWDEFOs which shall be community-based and maintained largely by local government units and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) or communitybased organizations (CBOs).