Baguio pushes for employment of PWDs

Baguio City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw wants equal opportunities for all. (Aldwin Quitasol)

The Baguio City government wants to make mandatory the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Baguio City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw, a PWD who walks with the aid of crutches, said everyone is entitled to have a source of income. Additionally, under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disability, PWDs are entitled to equal employment opportunities.

Allad-iw, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Employment, Livelihood, Cooperatives, Handicapped and Differently-abled Persons, cited Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for PWDs. The amended by RA 10524 expanded the positions reserved for PWDs in public and private institutions.

RA10524 states government agencies, offices or corporations should allot one percent of positions for PWDs.

Further, no PWD shall be denied access to opportunities for suitable employment and shall have the same terms and conditions of employment as everyone.

“Employed PWDs shall receive the same compensation, privileges, benefits, incentives or allowances as able-bodied employees are receiving'” said Allad-iw..

Allad-iw said it’s about time for Baguio to follow the examples of cities that facilitate the employment of PWD and senior citizens to make them feel they truly belong to the society.