Project Inclusion Network (PIN) and leading financial services firm JPMorgan Chase host a year-end gathering in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) on December 3, 2024, at the SMX Convention Center Aura. The event, titled Empowered Summit: Making a Difference with 1%, aligns with the annual observance of IDPWD, which promotes the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and calls for action toward their inclusion in all aspects of society and development (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs).
The Empowered Summit supports this celebration through meaningful dialogues and a showcase of success stories. The afternoon panel discussion focuses on Republic Act No. 10524, the law mandating government agencies to reserve 1% of their workforce for persons with disabilities while encouraging private corporations to do the same. This session features disability-inclusion experts from various sectors, including Mr. Randy Calseña from the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Ms. Carmen Zubiaga of the Women with Disabilities Leap to Women Social and Economic Program (WOWLEAP Inc.), Ms. Linartes Viloria of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and others, to explore how workplaces can achieve the 1% inclusion mandate.
As a culmination of the event, PIN partners share a thanksgiving dinner to celebrate a successful year for the advocacy. Additionally, PIN officially launches its media campaign, May 1% Ka Ba?, sponsored by the Austrian Embassy. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the 1% inclusion mandate by showcasing the stories of self-advocates working in organizations that practice inclusive employment.
The campaign highlights stories from Aileen Gay Sibal, a Deaf self-advocate; Lou Mallari, Rayne Saul Hugo, and Michael Ladrillo, who have orthopedic disabilities; and Benito Manangkil, who has an intellectual disability. They represent their employers, Teleperformance and Citihub, which have achieved approximately 5% and almost 100% of the inclusion mandate, respectively. Both companies are members of the Philippine Business and Disability Network (PBDN), a platform encouraging recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within the private sector.
Additionally, the experiences of Ariel Nuestro, who has cerebral palsy, and Christian Delos Santos, who has an orthopedic disability, underscore the importance of government-led initiatives. As representatives of the City Government of Mandaluyong, they demonstrate the power of public service in empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring equal opportunities.
The Empowered Summit is hosted by Ms. Stephanie Zubiri, a storyteller and author of the animated book Chalky the Chameleon, a tale for anyone who has ever felt out of place.
To learn more about the event and advocacy, contact Cece Hicaro, PIN’s Disability-Inclusive Workplaces Program Officer and part of the Technical Secretariat team of the PBDN, at cecilia.hicaro@projectinclusion.ph or 0923-469-8700.
