ePLDT’s program to increase employability for people with disabilities

The program enables disability inclusive hiring where ePLDT is employer-partner

ePLDT, an enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines, announces its continued collaboration with Microsoft with its inclusion as employer-partner for the Microsoft Enabler Program to foster a disability-inclusive workplace within the ePLDT Group.

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The Microsoft Enabler Program, launched in September 2020 across South Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, highlights Microsoft’s commitment to ensure inclusive-designed technological advances. It pioneers disability-inclusive workplace across the Asia Pacific region, giving utmost importance in building accessibility and a culture of inclusion at work. 

The ePLDT Human Resource and Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Team is in coordination with Virtualahan, a social organization in the Philippines that enables PWDs to secure gainful employment by providing them with intensive digital skills and mentorship in collaboration with Microsoft’s enabler program.

“With ePLDT as employer-partner, we join Microsoft in its vision of and commitment to enabling and empowering persons with disabilities in the workplace, while steadfast in the belief that there are no limits with what people can achieve,” says Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

“We welcome this development, as ePLDT carries on and expands our initiatives together with like-minded partners like Microsoft,” according to Fe Arlene Villanueva-Bassig, ePLDT Group Head for Workplace Management. “With approximately 650 million persons with some form of disability across Asia Pacific, it is but fitting to create experiences and opportunities that everyone can fully participate in.”

The Microsoft Enabler Program is another step in company’s journey, that started in the 1990’s, to improve disability inclusion and accessibility. The launch was participated in and extended to by partners who all raised their hands to reinforce the commitment to pull this program of disability inclusivity together.

Andres Ortola, Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager, says, “We are firmly invested in making sure technology and innovation are inclusive and accessible to all Filipinos. Furthermore, we aim to close the digital skills gap across the world and the Philippines, to help individuals and communities find employment. This program provides crucial technology skills that are globally recognized and in demand. Having ePLDT onboard helps scale up its impact and ensure we empower everyone to achieve more regardless of how they communicate, see, hear, or move.”

ePLDT’s thrust is to develop deeper and more meaningful partner relationships beyond business. “This program is not new to us, since 2018, ePLDT has embarked in supporting the country’s Magna Carta rights for disabled persons. As part of this campaign we have started by creating conducive workplace environment, supporting Handicapped Care Association, Inc. in the Philippines,“ says Fay Ocampo, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances during Microsoft Enabler Program launch together with other APAC employer partners, supporting 6 Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) in Asia Pacific.

Microsoft’s partners in the region commit to extend opportunities for the PWDs by providing job shadowing, training, mentoring and internship attachments in technical roles. These opportunities will be offered in close coordination with the NPOs who will match the most suitable PWD profile, skills, qualifications and ambitions with the requirements.

For more information, visit epldt.com.

Cover photo by: Marcus Aurelius.