The City Government of Davao has forged partnerships with two major fast food chains to create new employment opportunities for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs).
Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) were signed to formally integrate them into the workforce of the said establishments.
The initiative supports the implementation of the city’s Senior Citizens Job Opportunity Ordinance, authored by City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., which aims to provide jobs for able senior citizens.
The first agreement, signed with the Golden Arches Development Corporation (the master franchisee of McDonald’s in the Philippines), pledges to generate at least 110 job openings for senior citizens.
In a separate signing event, the City Government secured an agreement with the Jollibee Group for a total of 87 job opportunities for both senior citizens and PWDs.
Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte emphasized that these partnerships address the expressed desire of many seniors to remain in the workforce.
“Every time ‘pag pumupunta ako ng mga barangay … kadalasan diyan may mga senior citizen na lumalapit. Usually either may problema yan sa health or may iba kasing mga senior na gusto pang magtrabaho (Every time I visit the 182 barangays in the city, there are senior citizens who approach me—either they have health-related problems or they are seeking employment),” Duterte said.
“I meet a lot of senior citizens who tell me that if they only have a chance to work, they would definitely work.”
“May mga nakakasalubong tayo na mga senior citizens, ako mostly marami talaga na kung may chance lang daw sila na magtrabaho, magtatrabaho talaga sila (I meet a lot of senior citizens who tell me that if only have a chance to work, they would definitely work),” the acting mayor added.
He expressed gratitude to Golden Arches Development Corporation and the Jollibee Group for partnering with the City Government to provide senior citizens and PWDs with job opportunities.
“Dako kaayo ni siya nga butang g’yud para sa atoang mga senior citizen and PWD because the government’s job is to take care of our citizens, especially the marginalized sector … it’s a big help (This is a big deal and a big help to our senior citizens and PWDs because it is the government’s job to take care of our citizens, especially the marginalized sector),” Duterte stressed.
Lorenzo Borja, Head of the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), clarified that the program is for seniors who are both able and interested in working.
“Abled means that even if you are beyond 70 years old, as long as you can still carry out your tasks and are qualified to work, then you may avail of this program.”
“Ang buot pasabot sa abled, bisa’g lampas na ka’g 70 years old basta qualified ka sa ilahang requirement … buot pasabot ana naa pa siya’y kakayanan mutrabaho (Abled means that even if you are beyond 70 years old, as long as you can still carry out your tasks and are qualified to work, then you may avail of this program),” he said.
He added that priority will be given to senior citizens and PWDs with no source of income. Applications will be assessed by the Department of Labor and Employment Region XI (DOLE-XI) and the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO-Davao).
The signing ceremonies were attended by members of the city council, and heads of relevant city offices. Representatives from the partner-corporations were also present.
Duterte expressed hope that more companies would follow the example set by Golden Arches and the Jollibee Group to provide Dabawenyos with equal employment opportunities.
