Parañaque 2nd District Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan is seeking the establishment of public offices at the local government level that will partner with the private sector to assist persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens in finding jobs and accessing upskilling opportunities.
Yamsuan pitched the proposal to help employable PWDs and senior citizens who are struggling to find work due to discrimination, inadequate training and lack of information on job opportunities available to them.
“Disabled persons and seniors who are fit to work can become productive members of our economy if given the chance. However, many PWDs and elderly citizens remain poor because they find it difficult to get hired for jobs that suit them,” Yamsuan said.
“Sayang ang kanilang galing, dedikasyon at sipag na madadala sa kanilang trabaho kung sila ay mananatiling jobless. Sa halip na kaawaan o hindi bigyang pansin, dapat ay kinikilala natin ang kanilang mga kakayahang makapag-ambag sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya,” added Yamsuan.
“Their talent, dedication and diligence that they will bring to the workplace will go to waste if they remain jobless. Instead of pitying or ignoring them, we should recognize their capabilities to contribute to our economic growth.”)
Yamsuan said he will soon re-file a bill in the 20th Congress which aims to mandate the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to set up, operate and maintain job facilitation offices for PWDs and seniors, to be known as Local Centers for Inclusive Employment (LCIEs). These LCIEs will be established upon the request of the LGUs in capital towns, key cities and other strategic areas.
The proposed legislation was filed earlier by Yamsuan in the previous Congress following extensive consultations conducted with seniors and PWDs in his home city of Parañaque. Among the complaints aired by PWDs and senior citizens during these meetings were the perceived lack of government support in helping them find jobs that match their skills and qualifications.
“Our proposed legislation is in support of the agenda of our President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) to implement beneficial policies and programs that will guarantee equitable opportunities, special interventions and incentives for PWDs, as well as seniors,” said Yamsuan ahead of this year’s celebration of National Disability Rights Week on July 17 to 23.
Yamsuan said that despite the enactment of laws that aim to encourage the hiring of PWDs and seniors, government data show low labor participation rates in these sectors.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that only 353,000 PWDs were gainfully employed out of the 1.9 million who are within working age in 2022.
In the same year, the elderly sector faced a similar predicament where only 38.2 percent or about 965,200 of 2.54 million qualified senior citizens were employed.
A study done by the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) found that most PWDs are unaware that they can seek assistance in finding jobs through existing Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) in LGUs.
Yamsuan said his proposed measure includes a provision that would mandate LCIEs to establish partnerships with employers who shall regularly submit a list of job vacancies available to PWDs and seniors.
The LCIEs, which will operate as units under PESOs, shall also provide PWDs and seniors with sufficient information on employment opportunities, along with the labor market situation in their respective communities, Yamsuan said.
Each LCIE is also tasked under the bill to provide seniors and PWDs with relevant information, education and training that they can use in enhancing their skills and employability.
Under the proposed measure, the LCIE shall be linked with the DOLE regional offices for coordination and technical supervision, and to the DOLE Central Office, which will oversee the national employment service network and maintain a computerized PWD and senior citizens manpower registry.
