The Manila local government and McDonald's entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of a program that would give jobs to senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs).
The agreement was signed by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and J&F Food Corporation training consultant Sofia Loriega on Monday, March 18.
Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto and Secretary to the Mayor Lawyer Marlon Lacson attended as witnesses.
Manila's Public Employment Service Office (PESO) head Fernan Bermejo also graced the signing ceremony.
According to Mayor Honey, all medical requirements will be shouldered by the city government, along with the "Fit to Work" medical certifications, and physical, medical, and laboratory exams.
"Kami na ang bahala. Gagawin ito ng Manila PESO. May procedure na sila para dito. Binabati ko ang McDonald's sa kanilang mahusay na corporate social responsibility sa pagbibigay ng trabaho para sa mga nakatatanda at PWD sa kanilang mga branches sa Lungsod ng Maynila (We will take care of it. Manila PESO will do it. They have a procedure for this. I congratulate McDonald's for their excellent corporate social responsibility in providing jobs for the elderly and PWD in their branches in the City of Manila),” she said.
Applicants who will be hired will work for not more than four hours a day, with shifts either in the morning or afternoon.
They will also be entitled to a 13th-month pay, service incentive leaves, and company group insurance.
The available positions are being order presenters, drink drawer and table managers, and guest relations staff.
Under the signed MOA, Lacuna-Pangan said three senior citizens or PWDs will be hired per outlet of McDonald’s located within Manila and will undergo training.
"Upang matulungan ang mga nakatatanda at PWD, hiniling ko sa Manila Police na i-waive ang kanilang usual fees para sa pag-iisyu ng police clearance at magbukas ng courtesy lanes para sa mga nakatatanda at PWD na nag-a-apply para sa police clearance kaugnay sa pag-aaplay ng trabaho alinsunod sa memorandum of agreement (To help seniors and PWDs, I have asked the Manila Police to waive their usual fees and open courtesy lanes for seniors and PWDs applying for police clearances needed for job application under the memorandum of agreement)," the mayor said.
The lady mayor said the program aims to re-integrate the senior citizens and PWDs as "productive members of society".
Interested applicants may check the Public Employment Service Office - City of Manila's Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Senior Citizen Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes lauded Mayor Honey and her administration for the continued success of the city's program that provides job opportunities for senior citizens and PWDs.
“Muling pinatutunayan ng nasabing MOA, na ang Maynila ay isang capital city of equal opportunity sa Pilipinas. Kasama ko si Mayor Honey Lacuna sa pagpupuri sa McDonald's sa pagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga kwalipikadong senior citizens, iba pang nakatatanda, at mga PWDs (The said MOA reaffirms that Manila is a capital city of equal opportunity in the Philippines. I join Mayor Honey Lacuna in commending McDonald's for providing employment to qualified senior citizens, other seniors, and PWDs),” said Ordanes who is also chairman of the Committee on Senior Citizens at the House of Representatives.
"Naaalala ko rin at pinupuring muli ang Shakey's, Sarisuki, at KFC sa Maynila sa pagpapatupad ng mga batas laban sa diskriminasyon ng ating bansa sa kanilang kumpanya. Sa inspirasyon ng kanilang mga halimbawa, gagawa ako ng isang Senior Citizen Party-list award para kilalanin ang mga namumukod-tanging LGU, kumpanya, at organisasyon na mahusay na huwaran sa pagtataguyod ng mga karapatan, kapakanan, at proteksyon ng mga senior citizen (I also remember and praise again Shakey's, Sarisuki, and KFC in Manila for implementing our country's anti-discrimination laws in their companies. Inspired by their examples, I will create a Senior Citizen Party-list award to recognize outstanding LGUs, companies, and organizations that are exemplary in promoting the rights, welfare, and protection of senior citizens),” he added.