Outlook

Government economists have also reported a 34% poverty incidence in base-year 2000, and a high unemployment rate of 12.7% for 2003. Considering that 10% of the population is impaired and most are not gainfully employed, it is most likely that this particular sector of society has a direct bearing, or contributes largely to the present level of unemployment and poverty incidence. With a defined percentage of jobs that government may provide, and the incentives made available to private employers, these clearly indicate that there are enough opportunities for trained and differently abled workers in the marketplace.

While numerous public-benefit organizations address concerns of children and the youth, health care, education, environment, housing, poverty, etc., there are also existing non-profit organizations and institutions that provide services, specifically, for the marginalized disabled sector, from prevention, to rehabilitation, to education of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The NOVA Foundation, on the other hand, shall focus on the educated 5% of the population of persons with disabilities, who have already been academically prepared to enter the workforce immediately, as contributing and productive members of mainstream society, through augmenting competency-based training program, employment generation, and advocacy. Assuming this role shall be its direct contribution to the disabled sector, and to the job creation and poverty alleviation programs of government, as well."