A Quezon City councilor urged business establishment owners to employ handicapped person in their firms to help them become productive members of the society.
Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes of the city’s third district, in a resolution approved by the city, said that qualified persons with disabilities should be granted a fair shake and conditions of employment as qualified able-bodied employees.
Republic Act 7277, as mended by Republic Act 9442 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, provides equal employment opportunity for disabled persons. Under the law, no disabled person shall be denied access to opportunities for suitable employment.
Reyes said that the noble objective of Magna Carta for Disabled Persons is not based “merely on charity or accommodation, but on justice and the equal treatment of qualified persons, disabled or not.”
He said that the city government, cognizant of its social responsibility, believes that there is a need to provide disabled and handicapped persons gainful employment and opportunities to realize their potentials, uplift their socio-economic well-being and welfare, and make them productive, self reliant and useful citizens to enable tem to fully integrate into the mainstream of society.
Reyes added the Magna Carta provides certain incentives for employers to encourage the active participation of the private sector in promoting the welfare of disabled persons, including providing gainful employment for them.

Source: Manila Bulletin - January 8, 2012