The Department of Science and Technology steps forward for PWDs or persons with disabilities as it marks this year’s National ICT Month with the first ever ICT job fair for PWDs. Spearheaded by DOST’s Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and SM Supermalls, the job fair has the theme “ICT: Enabling People, an ICT Job and Skills Fair for PWDs” to be held June 14, 2012 at the Cyberzone, SM North EDSA Annex. The event is open to the public, especially PWDs, from 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

The ICT job fair aims to provide a venue for job matching qualified PWDs and employers and to showcase the latest IT-enabled productivity tools for differently-abled folks. The job fair likewise gives an opportunity for employers in the ICT industry to appreciate the talents and capabilities of PWDs, as well as to inspire participants that anything is possible with ICT, including giving opportunities for PWDs to make a niche in their chosen ICT-related careers.

Undersecretary Louis Casambre of the DOST-ICTO and Undersecretary Alicia R. Bala of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will share their thoughts on this unique program that provides equal opportunities for Filipino PWDs.

The ICT job fair will also feature exhibits of ICT companies, demonstrations on technologies enabling PWDs to be more productive, and testimonials from PWD ICT professionals that aim to inspire other PWDs to pursue ICT-related professions.

The DOST-NCDA-SM Supermalls ICT job fair is a collaboration among various partners in government, private sector and people’s organizations.

DOST-ICTO is the Philippine Government’s lead agency on ICT related matters. Its primary thrusts are in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all, and Cybersecurity. (Roy Espiritu, S&T Media Service)