Businesses for Inclusion: The Philippine Business and Disability Network Launch

Header Graphics
14 Feb 2020

Over 150 members from the public, private, non-profit, and civil society organization sectors convened on 28 January 2020, to witness the launch of the Philippine Business and Disability Network (PBDN).
Organized by Project Inclusion Network (PIN), with the support of Unilab Foundation and Humanity and Inclusion, the launch served as a venue to encourage representatives from various sectors in the country to join and support the Network.

Introducing the PBDN, President of PIN, Dr. Rex Bernardo, shared about his journey to becoming an advocate of Persons with Disability, having first-hand experience on the challenges of every Person with Disability, himself. Executive Director of PIN, Grant Javier, delved deeper into discussing the PBDN’s core thrust, plans, and its membership process, where he underpinned the gaps that the Network aims to address.

Jen Lagasca, Human Resource Manager on Diversity and Inclusion of Asurion, one of PIN’s partners from the private sector, shared how their company jumpstarted the inclusion process, emphasizing the benefits of workplace-inclusion to the organization and its employees. Meanwhile, Reiza Dejito, Regional Programs Coordinator of Humanity and Inclusion, shared points on the benefits of the shared work of private, public, and non-government sectors.

Alexander Michael Bautista, a Person with Disability and co-founder of a Person with Disability transportation start-up, shared about his journey to founding his company as he emphasized the important role that communities play in fostering an inclusive and barrier-free Philippines
The program ended with a symbolic activity wherein representatives, from various organizations and sectors, wrote their commitments to support disability inclusion together, through the PBDN. The launch was able to gather 123 commitments from attendees.

The PBDN is presently accepting membership applications from private organizations. For GBDN members that have local counterparts in the Philippines, referrals would be much appreciated. Contact us via pbdn@projectinclusion.ph.