The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI recently participated in the celebration of the recently concluded National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week.

With the theme: “Karapatan ng may kapansanan isakatuparan. Now na!”  the Department first hosted the conduct of the Disability Forum held on July 20, 2016.

The forum was held in partnership with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Participated by selected government human resource officers, PWD organization members and Public Employment Services Office (PESO) managers, the forum focused on educating the stakeholders about the rights of PWDs and the laws covering it.

Topics covered include R.A. 10754 or “An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD),” R.A. 10524 or “The Magna Carta for Persons with Disability,” and the Economic Independence Program. These were discussed by resource speakers from DOLE XI, NAPC, Commission on Human Rights, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Civil Service Commission.

The forum was followed by a DOLE XI Program Orientation on July 21, 2016 wherein local social workers and representatives of the academe specifically the Ateneo de Davao University, Davao Medial School Foundation, Holy Cross of Calinan and University of Mindanao were briefed about the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities known as R.A. 10524 and on how they can avail of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

DOLE XI OIC-Assistant Regional Director Jason P. Balais in his message said that the orientation is the Department’s way of reaching out to the stakeholders especially the PWDs of the many programs that they can avail from DOLE XI.

“We would want to expand our network, we would want to multiply our presence in the field to reach out as many clients as possible, pinaagi sa inyoha (through you) later on,” he added.

The NDPR week celebration last July 17 to 23 is pursuant to proclamation 1870, series of 1979.

Kriztja Marae G. Labrador/LCO-DOLEXI