By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
Laoag City—City
councilor Handy T. Lao is urging the local government and private businesses
here to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
In an approved Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution which he
sponsored, Mr. Lao said he based the measure in pursuant to Republic Act A No.
9994, Section 5 (a) which states, “Senior Citizens who have the capacity and
desire to work, or, be re-employed, shall be provided information and matching
services to enable to be productive members of society”.
He also noted Section 5 of RA No. 7277 which also
provides, “No disable person shall be denied access opportunities for suitable
employment”.
Mr. Lao further stressed that the city government should
also adopt the national government’s recognition of the role of senior citizens
and PWDs in developing a strong Filipino nation and their integral part in the
society.
The city promotes and gives full support to the
improvement of the total well-being of the elderly and PWDs, their families and
the communities they serve.
In this connection, the city government here urges all
government and private sectors, especially fast food chains located in the city,
to provide opportunity through employment to give a regular income and provide
equal benefits that conforms with the provisions of labor code and other laws
and regulations.
During the discussion, city social welfare and
development officer Perlita Cabello was asked regarding the number of senior
citizens and PWDs population in the city.
Laoag councilor Juan Conrado A. Respicio II also asked Ms.
Cabello the possible classifications for PWDs for them to have a chance to work
and be employed.
Mr. Respicio likewise manifested that the said measure be
sponsored by the committee of the whole, which was also approved during the
amendment portion.
Of the more than 500 PWDs in the city, including
children, most of them are classified with multiple deformity, learning
disability, mental/intellectual disability, orthopedically disability and
hearing impairment disability.
Ms. Cabello believes that those who have the disabilities
on ortho, depth and mute and visual are the possible PWDs that can avail of the
employment opportunity.
Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Atty.
Vicentito M. Lazo advised Ms. Cabello to consolidate the PWDs’ list so they can
determine their total as well as their respective classifications.
Ms. Cabello likewise reported that six percent of the
total population of Laoag are registered as senior citizen, or elderly persons.
In an interview with Imelda Dela Cruz, a deaf and mute,
thanked the city government for giving them the opportunity to work with the
government and private sectors like those who are normal.
Ms. Dela Cruz is presently a massage therapist.
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