The Quezon City Government has institutionalized its flagship Kasama Ka sa Kyusi Program (KKSK), strengthening long-term employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and embedding inclusive hiring into the city’s core labor and social development policies.
Through City Ordinance SP-3469, S-2025, Quezon City guarantees sustained funding, program support, and institutional backing for initiatives that help persons with disabilities access meaningful and dignified employment.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the ordinance reflects the city’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are not excluded from economic opportunities and workforce participation.
“Karapatan ng ating persons with disabilities sector na magkaroon ng sapat at makabuluhang oportunidad upang makapagtrabaho at magkaroon ng dignified na kabuhayan. Sa Quezon City, hindi natin tinitingnan ang kapansanan bilang limitasyon, kundi bilang pagkakataon upang mas mapalawak ang inclusivity at empowerment sa ating lipunan,” Mayor Belmonte said.
Launched in 2023 and spearheaded by the Quezon City Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO), the KKSK Program was created to address long-standing barriers to employment faced by persons with disabilities. The program provides a full support system — from skills training and assessment to job matching and placement — ensuring that opportunities align with each beneficiary’s strengths, interests, and capabilities.
As of March 2026, the program has already provided work opportunities to more than 500 beneficiaries.
The ordinance also strengthens Quezon City’s compliance with Republic Act No. 10524, which mandates that at least one percent of positions in government agencies, offices, and corporations be reserved for persons with disabilities.
Currently, the Quezon City Government employs 731 persons with disabilities across contractual, job order, and permanent positions — representing 3.12 percent of the city’s total workforce of 23,440 employees, significantly exceeding the national minimum requirement.
To further expand employment opportunities, QC PDAO has also partnered with major private sector companies including Jollibee Foods Corporation, Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc., and Cabalen to open more inclusive workplaces for persons with disabilities. Through these partnerships alone, 95 deaf individuals were hired last year.
“The local government remains committed to ensuring that our Persons with Disabilities — or persons with determination — are given enough and meaningful opportunities to work, grow, and contribute to society. Inclusive employment is not just about jobs; it is about dignity, independence, and recognizing the value that every individual brings to the community,” Mayor Belmonte added.
For many beneficiaries, the program has become more than just an employment initiative — it has become a pathway toward independence, stability, and renewed confidence.
Before joining the workforce through KKSK, Rafael, a deaf employee now working at Cabalen, faced repeated rejection while applying for jobs.
“Tambay lang ako noon. Nakakapagod kasi wala akong ginagawa. Gusto kong magtrabaho pero palaging rejected,” Rafael shared.
He applied to eight different establishments but was repeatedly turned down after employers learned he was deaf.
“Nakakapagod at nakakawala ng pag-asa.”
With support from his family and the city government, Rafael completed NC II certifications in Cookery and Bread & Pastry Production through Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Today, he has been a regular employee at Cabalen for two years and now helps support his family, including his parents’ medical needs.
“Masaya ako. May sweldo na ako. Natutulungan ko na ang pamilya ko,” he said.
Applicants under the KKSK Program undergo interviews and job assessments conducted by QC PDAO. Qualified applicants are then matched with positions in city departments or partner companies based on their skills and capacities.
Those who demonstrate strong performance may later qualify for contract-of-service or plantilla positions within the city government, while private sector partners such as Jollibee Foods Corporation and Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. offer fixed-term employment opportunities. Cabalen also provides pathways toward permanent employment following probationary periods.
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