On May 3, Dr. Rex Bernardo, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Consultant of AGENDA’s partner in the Philippines, the Center for Advocacy, Learning, and Livelihood (CALL) Foundation, was invited to speak at a webinar on the employment status of persons with disabilities organized by the Area I Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC I) in Dagupan City. Dr. Bernardo disseminated 40 DPO recommendations from CALL Foundation’s first online coordination committee discussion on April 9, detailing how to eliminate challenges and barriers on employment for persons with disabilities. The recommendations are addressed for persons with disabilities and their organizations, the house of representatives special committee on persons with disabilities, and 9 relevant national government agencies including the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The recommendations include the need for revisiting skills training, the establishment of an employment quota in private sectors, and ensuring workplaces are physically accessible. AVRC I noted that these recommendations are the first steps to advance the fulfilment of employment rights for persons with disabilities.

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