The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) successfully held its two-day celebration of the 47th National Disability Rights (NDR) Week recently.
With the theme “Innovation for Inclusion: Building Inclusive Communities Together,” the event was organized under Proclamation No. 593, s. 2024, issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., designating July 17–23 of every year as NDR Week nationwide, which echoes the President’s commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
The first day of the celebration at the Ichikawa Hall of the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City gave persons with disabilities (PWDs) and persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) access to employment opportunities through a career orientation and job fair, connecting them to inclusive employers such as Starworks, Excelpro, Volare, First Asia, Multirich, SPI Corp., LSERV, S&R, Fruitas, and Lamoiyan.
Led by ECC Executive Director Kaima Via Velasquez, the program also featured a mental health talk, an interactive discussion on the role of family support in PWRD recovery, and career guidance coaching through the ECC’s Work Contingency Prevention and Rehabilitation Division.
The ECC also launched the Disability Sensitivity Training for its regular, contract-of-service (COS), and job order (JO) employees at the ECC Multipurpose Hall in Makati City.
Resource speaker Jemellee P. Aguilar, MPA, of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), discussed the legal basis of PWD rights, relevant Philippine laws on their privileges and protections, and proper etiquette in interacting with them.
These initiatives, as part of ECC’s mandate as a DOLE-attached agency, reflect the Department’s continuing commitment to equitable opportunities and services for all, in line with the Marcos administration’s agenda.
“Lubos ang aming pagpapahalaga sa patuloy na pagsusulong sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawang may kapansanan sa pamamagitan ng mga polisiya, mga programang pangkabuhayan, pang-empleyo, pangkalusugan, at kaligtasan sa lahat ng pagawaan saan mang sulok ng Pilipinas,” said DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma in his 2025 NDR Week message.
The conduct of activities was originally scheduled in July but was postponed due to inclement weather.
