Through Unilab Foundation’s Project Inclusion, Univet Nutrition & Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO) and the LGU of Carmona, Cavite dared to hire Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the first time -- and it is proving fruitful.
Through Unilab Foundation’s Project Inclusion, Univet Nutrition & Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO) and the LGU of Carmona, Cavite dared to hire Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the first time -- and it is proving fruitful.
Thorough and precise. This is how UNAHCO employees describe the two Persons with Autism (PWAs) in their team. UNAHCO employed PWIDs Randy Motoomull, a Computer Science graduate; and Gian Carlo Mendoza, a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the Finance department last March. The two were hired through Project Inclusion, Unilab Foundation’s (ULF) employment program for Persons with Disabilities.
Their supervisors in the Unilab division happily relate that both Gian and Randy are performing routine tasks with unmatched accuracy – a skill that they need and value in their department.
“Si Gian, siya ang taga-receive ng mga collections at mga remittance. Siya ang nagbubukas ng mga envelope isa-isa. Siya ang auditor ko. Kapag may discrepancy sa tseke kahit 1 centavo, sasabihin niya sakin. Nililinis pa niya yung envelope, baka may naiwan sa loob (Gian’s task is to receive the collections and remittances. He’s my auditor; he opens the envelopes one by one, and checks if there is a discrepancy, even if it’s only 1 centavo. He ensures nothing’s left inside the envelope),” said Willy Magcalas, Cashiering Head of UNAHCO.
Randy, on the other hand, files payment proposals in the Accounting department. Princess, who oversees Randy’s work, joyfully shares that he is detail-oriented and disciplined. “Kailangan 7:30 a.m., nagstart na talaga siya mag-work. Pati 4:30 p.m. pag-uwi, sakto din.” (For Randy, work starts at exactly 7:30 a.m. He also leaves at 4:30 p.m., on the dot).
Liza Ramos, Training and Organizational Development Supervisor in UNAHCO, shares her newfound insights: “Hindi pala lahat ng PWDs hindi pwedeng i-employ. Pwede pala sila maging professional. Meron palang mga taong gifted in routine work na minsan tina-take for granted natin. Sila ‘yun (I realized that not all PWDs are not employable. They can also be professional. They are great in doing routine work, which we sometimes take for granted).”
Liza also notes, “We have a culture of being a family. You won’t say na iba sila. Meron lang silang ibang katangian pero ‘yung care din namin nagta-transcend sa kanila (We have a culture of being a family. You won’t say that they are different. They only have different qualities, but our care transcends to them).”
The two previously worked with the Credit and Collections and Treasury divisions of Unilab for six months.
LGU of Carmona follows suit
Inspired by UNAHCO and Project Inclusion, the Municipality of Carmona, Cavite headed by Mayor Dahlia Loyola also welcomed two PWIDs into its workforce. Raichan Dearoz and Joemarie Espinosa are also Persons with Autism (PWAs), who are now working as part of the administrative and clerical team in the Local Government Unit.
For over 10 years, Carmona has been recognized for its education and rehabilitation programs for PWDs. It is in the same spirit that Mayor Loyola, through Project Inclusion, opened job opportunities for PWAs for the first time. She also committed to organize a CEO Forum on workplace inclusion to enable the hiring of more PWIDs.
ULF celebrates regularization of its first PWID employee
The first employee under Project Inclusion, Vico Cham, is now a regular employee. This is a milestone for Project Inclusion, which aims to enable long-term and sustainable employment for PWDs. Vico, who calls himself “Mr. Proudly Autistic,” celebrated his second year of employment as an Administrative and Graphic Design Assistant last May. He was given special recognition for his mural depicting his view of a healthier Philippines, which has become an icon for the Foundation.
With a growing number of companies embracing workplace inclusion, Project Inclusion gears up for the employment of more PWIDs with a Human Resource Manual.
Inspired by this story? Dare to hire a PWD! For more information about Project Inclusion, email us at healthierPH@unilabfoundation.org.
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