DOLE-6, partners hold job, business fairs for PWDs

SAN JOSE, Antique – 48 persons with disabilities (PWDs) joined the first Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) Job and Business Fairs held in the Province of Antique in observance with the recently concluded 41st National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week Celebration.

Of the 48 registered PWD-applicants, Rene Boy Tabigue of Brgy. Jalandoni, Culasi, Antique was hired-on-the-spot by Ahon sa Hirap, Inc.  as development officer while 21 others were scheduled for further interview.

The Office of Persons with Disability Affairs spearheaded the said activity in partnership Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Provincial Government of Antique through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

This activity aimed to facilitate the employment of PWDs by referring them to employment opportunities, livelihood assistance, skills trainings and entrepreneurship orientations offered by private establishments and national government agencies.

Five private establishments – Gaisano Grand Mall of Antique; DDL and Sons Management, Inc.; Savant Technologies, Inc.; Esprutingkle Group of Companies; and, AhonsaHirap, Inc. (ASHI) – joined the job fair.

Some national government agencies such as the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Philippine Statistical Authority also participated and extended their programs and services to the PWDs in this province.

DOLE made available its employment programs, projects and services to qualified PWDs such as the Government Internship Program, Kabuhayan Program, and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority discussed its scholarship program while the DTI gave a talk on entrepreneurship to PWDs inclined to engage in micro-enterprises.

According to DOLE Region 6 Director Cyril L. Ticao, the PWD sector is one of the priorities of the department. A number of PWDs have been recipients and beneficiaries of various employment programs, projects, and services in the previous years.

In 2018 alone, 267 PWDs in the have accessed the Department’s Kabuhayan Program, Ticao added.