In observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), Project Inclusion Network and JPMorgan Chase hosted “Empowered Summit: Making a Difference with 1%,” a year-end gathering to celebrate inclusivity and diversity, on 3 December at the SMX Convention Center Aura.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, IDPWD aims to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for their inclusion in all aspects of society and development.

The Empowered Summit contributes to this yearly celebration by fostering insightful discussions and highlighting success stories of individuals with disabilities.

During the panel discussion of disability inclusion experts, Republic Act No. 10524 was highlighted. The law mandates government agencies to reserve 1% of their workforce for persons with disabilities while encouraging private corporations to follow suit.

However, according to Atty. Judith Dongallo-Chicano, Assistant Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, as of June 2024, only 8,248 persons with disabilities are employed in the government, which is less than the required 1% according to the law.

According to Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga, Founder and Current President of Women with Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress (WOW-LEAP Inc.), 1% of job positions in government agencies should be allocated for persons with disabilities. However, she added that enforcing this provision is challenging.

She also recommended that law provisions include personal assistance as part of reasonable accommodations and emphasized the numerous barriers persons with disabilities face in seeking employment, particularly the poor implementation of laws and policies.

These conditions led Project Inclusion Network to launch a media campaign titled “May 1% Ka Ba?” sponsored by the Austrian Embassy. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the 1% inclusion mandate by showcasing the stories of self-advocates currently working in various organizations that practice inclusive employment.

One of the equal opportunity employers in the country is SM Hotels and Convention Center Corp (SMHCC). Charmagne Adonis, SMHCC Vice President for Human Resources, during the discussion, encouraged employers to focus on ability over physical limitations in hiring.

“We have nine to 14 properties all over the country. So it’s not even limited to the cities. So if there are persons with disabilities in the provinces, whether north or south, they’re welcome,” Adonis said.

Meanwhile, Bronson Escalderon, a Deaf Career Coach at the Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, stressed that, in addition to implementing the 1% rule in recruitment, the deaf community also requires guidance and training to enhance their skills.

“It’s not much on the training of the deaf, so they need a guide, someone who can explain to them the process so that they can be ready [for employment].”