REPORT

What: Meeting Invitation from El Salvador City Council during Sangguniang

Panglungsod Regular Session RE: Proposed City Ordinance authored by Hon. John
Marc T. Noble, City Councilor.

“AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING COMPANIES AND BUSINESS ENTITIES WITHIN

THE CITY OF EL SALVADOR WITH MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED (100)
EMPLOYEES TO RESERVE AT LEAST ONE PERCENT (1%) OF ITS WORKFORCE
FOR QUALIFIED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWD).”

Where: ABC Session Hall, 3rd Flr New City Hall, City of El Salvador
When: October 3, 2022 at 10:30AM

Discussions/Important Points:
● Companies and business entities with more than 100 employees were invited to
attend the Sangguniang Panglungsod Regular Session to have a forum re:
Proposed City Ordinance (see attachment 1). Thus, companies and business
entities with less than 100 employees were automatically exempted from the
calling. Approximately 20 companies were given invitation letters dated
September 27, 2022, of which 9 companies were in attendance and/or
represented and the rest were unavailable.
● Prior to the forum proper, the City Council extended the time to wait should other
companies and/or their representatives might come into attendance. As the
session began, proprietors and/or duly authorized representatives were called
and acknowledged by the City Council, presided by City Vice Mayor, Hon. Mark
William Tan.
● Hon. Tan started the session by asking what were the companies and business
entities’ ideas and suggestions to the proposed city ordinance concerning the
reservation of Qualified Persons with Disabilities of at least 1% in the workforce.
However, Hon. Tan found that it was only during the meeting when the Draft
Ordinance No. 03-S. 2022 was handed to the representatives. On this note, City
Councilor Hon. Gabule suggested giving them (companies) more time to decide
as this requires in-depth and internal discussions within the company and their
respective management. At the time as well, the author, City Councilor Hon.
Noble came in late (arrived at 10:55AM) hence the acceptance of the suggestion.
The session-presider also reminded everyone to discuss this with respective
heads, especially the HR, and that the ideas and suggestions will be done next
time.
● As the session continued, City Councilor Hon. Dangcal mentioned that
companies should evaluate/assess if the work assigned to the PWDs is
manageable on their ends. City Councilors Hon. Clarin and Hon. Enerio
supported the claim stating that companies should ensure the safety of the
PWDs.
● Hon. Tan also inquired from the companies if they already have employees who
are PWDs, to which some responded they currently employed PWDs. Concerns
 regarding the infrastructures/ facilities for the PWDs were also mentioned such
as the stairs and ramps, offices, and comfort rooms. In this regard, Hon. Clarin
clarified that there is an existence of National Law, and such law covered the
need to build the likes of comfort rooms and ramps.
● Hon. Dangcal gave thanks to companies who accepted Persons with Disabilities
in the workforce.
● As the session nears an end, the presider asked the employees to submit a list of
employees to their office with the composition (70% El Sal?) as well as the
employees’ specification of their disabilities.
● Before the representatives were dismissed, the City Council’s Secretary once
again clarified if these manpower services (present) are only providers or the
companies themselves (URC, TANDUAY, ASIA BREW, etc.)
● The session ended with a reminder that those unavailable for today's scheduled
session— and the companies (not just the manpower services’ representatives)
will be separately called for another session.
ATTACHMENT 1:

*INSERT ATTACHMENT