Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens often suffer discrimination when it comes to employability and job opportunities due to their disability or old age, but efforts to end this discrimination are gaining headway.
This is why San Pedro City, Laguna Councilor Bernadeth Olivares seeks to enact an ordinance encouraging the employment of qualified senior citizens and PWDs in the city.
During a public hearing on July 24, Councilor Olivares, together with Councilors Marky Oliveros, Sonny Mendoza, SK President Raphael Ty, Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) head Jojit Negrosa, and members from the senior citizens and PWD sector discussed the proposed ordinance.
Under the ordinance, businesses are encouraged to employ senior citizens and PWDs with a "one to 10" ratio in their workforce.
The city government, on the other hand, will grant additional tax incentives to the business establishments that will comply with the ordinance once passed.
Business establishments that will employ senior citizens are entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to 15 percent of the total amount paid as salaries and wages to senior citizens while 25 percent will be granted if PWDs were hired.
“When I talked to Mayor [Art Mercado] about giving additional incentives sa mga business establishments, pinag-aralan po ito ng finance team ng ating city at gusto po ni Mayor yung ordinansa despite yung magiging kabawasan nito sa magiging revenue ng ating city," Olivares noted during the public hearing.
“Di po namin at ni Mayor nakikita yung significant impact ng pagbawas nito sa revenue ng city natin kaya supported po ito ng ating local chief executive," she added.
Under the ordinance, the city government will also recognize businesses that employ senior citizens and PWDs as "inclusive businesses."
“Minsan pag nakikita nilang inclusive ‘tong establishment na ‘to, ‘ay, suportahan natin siya’ para we can encourage support as well, ayun po ang magiging help ng city government sa inyo to further market your establishment,” Olivares stressed.
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