DA Caraga, Butuan SPED Center forge partnership for inclusive recruitment

The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XIII (DA-RFO 13) and the Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Special Education (SPED) Center have formalized a partnership aimed at making government recruitment more accessible and inclusive for applicants with disabilities.

The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Equal Opportunity Recruitment Partnership and Inclusive Human Resource Management Practices during a ceremony at the DA-RFO 13 Conference Hall.

The agreement strengthens DA Caraga’s efforts to promote merit-based and equal-opportunity recruitment while advancing inclusive human resource management practices consistent with the principles of the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).

Under the agreement, the Butuan City SPED Center will provide technical assistance during recruitment activities through qualified SPED professionals. Their support will include recommending appropriate assessment approaches based on an applicant’s disability and accommodation needs, as well as guidance on communication strategies and reasonable workplace accommodations.

The partnership also provides for the facilitation of qualified sign language interpreters, when available, and assistance in promoting inclusive recruitment practices.

Both agencies also committed to protecting the confidentiality of information gathered from applicants during recruitment activities.

DA Caraga said the partnership will provide its recruitment teams access to specialized expertise to help ensure that applicants with disabilities are given accessible and equitable opportunities to demonstrate their qualifications.

The MOA was signed by DA-RFO 13 Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo M. Onate Jr. and Butuan City SPED Center Head Teacher III Carolyn S. Mayuga.

The partnership reflects the agencies’ commitment to promoting equal opportunity in public service and creating recruitment processes that are responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities.