Job and Business Fair for PWDs

By: Pilar S. Mabaquiao

SAN JOSE, Antique – The “Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan” highlighted this year’s observance of the 41st National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week on July 17-23, 2019 at Diosdado Macapagal Gymnasium here.

More than 100 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and some members of their families attended the Job and Business Fair.

Five local companies participating in the event – Savant Tech. Inc., Ahon Sa Hirap Inc., DDL and Sons management Inc., Gaisano Mall and Sprutingkle Group of Companies.

Rene Boy Tabigue, who has orthopedic disability and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Vicente A. Javier Memorial Community College, was the only applicant hired on the spot by AHON sa Hirap Inc.

Provincial Director Melisa S. Navarra underscored the commitment of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to facilitate employments of persons with disabilities and link them to various agencies and companies for them to acquire skills for employment or start a business.

She assured them that DOLE has livelihood programs for organized groups of persons with disabilities.

Mercedes Young, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) likewise shared the services of Negosyo Centers in the 18 towns of the province with trained and competent business counselors who can provide support for aspiring entrepreneurs or for those who want to upscale their businesses.

DTI also organized an Entrepreneurship Training for PWDs after the Jobs and Business Fair at the Municipal Economic Enterprise and Development Office of San Jose de Buenavista.

For TESDA, Provincial Director Rick Abraham shared a lot of training programs where PWDs could enroll for free. He encouraged them to visit the different TESDA accredited schools or TESDA office so they could be guided with the requirements and training programs they wanted to apply.

Other agencies of government are also present to provide support services for PWDs such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority and Municipal Civil Registrar of San Jose and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer Lazaro Petinglay thanked the agencies and companies that joined the Job and Business Fair organized by the Provincial Government and DOLE. (PIA)