Davao City Marks Milestone as First Batch of PWDs Completes Special Employment Program
A total of 21 members of the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) sector successfully concluded their special employment on March 19, 2026, in Davao City. This group represents the inaugural batch of PWDs employed under a local government initiative designed to foster equal work opportunities and cultivate a more inclusive business environment.
Program Details and Beneficiary Experiences
The beneficiaries, who are deaf and hard of hearing, engaged in five-month part-time positions, primarily within fast-food chains, working eight-hour shifts that commenced in November 2025. Lilibeth Pantinople, head of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), highlighted the challenges in securing employment for this sector and expressed gratitude to businesses that signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to facilitate these roles.
Heidi Cabahog, one of the participants employed at a pizza fast-food chain, shared her positive experience, noting it was her first time in such a work setting. “They helped us by providing job opportunities for the deaf community,” she conveyed in sign language, thanking PESO, the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), and the management for the opportunity.
Expansion Plans and Future Opportunities
Pantinople reported that approximately 75 PWDs applied for the initial positions, but only 21 could be accommodated due to limited slots. Those not included in the first batch will have another chance in upcoming hiring rounds. To recruit the second batch of PWDs, as well as the third and fourth batches of senior citizens, a job fair is scheduled for March 27, 2026, at Felcris Centrale.
However, the number of PWD hires will remain the same for now, as efforts focus on expanding the program. Pantinople encouraged more businesses to partner with the office, stating in a media interview, “There are also many companies considering this program, so we hope and pray that by next year we will already have many partners.”
Government Support and Broader Impact
Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr. expressed satisfaction with the program's success and emphasized the local government's commitment to institutionalizing it. The initiative, first proposed by Mahipus in a privilege speech on October 10, 2023, gained momentum with the approval of the Senior Citizens Work Opportunity Ordinance, aiming to help both senior citizens and PWDs earn income, stay active, and feel valued in the community.
In addition to PWDs, the second batch of senior citizens has already begun working, with three-month positions featuring four-hour shifts. As of 2024, Davao City has an estimated 170,000 senior citizens and approximately 34,000 registered PWDs, underscoring the program's potential to address employment gaps and promote social inclusion on a larger scale.
