97. For 2003, the least educated was also heavily represented among the underemployed. Nearly onehalf (46.6 per cent) of the underemployed attended only elementary education or have not completed any grade at all. Slightly over a third (36.4 per cent) attended at least high school and less than (17.0 per cent) has college education. a fifth training and employment opportunities formal and informal sector. The level of underemployment rose during the crisis in the early 1990s from 5 million to 6.5 million in in the 103. From 1994 to May 2004, the program helpeg employ 22, 110 differently-abled persons in the formal sector. Of this number, 32 per cent or 7, 219 persons with disability (PWDs) were placed in open employment. 98. both For self-employment, 67 per cent or 14, 891 PWDs were given assistance for their own livelihood projects. Training benefited 7, 059 PWDs. 1999. Over this period, the underemployment rates declined by 0.1 per centage points, i.e. from 22.4 per cent to 22.3 per cent. The number of underemployed continued to be high at around 5.4 million annually for the period 1990 to 1999. 99. In 1999, 53.6 per cent of the underemployed were visibly underemployed, meaning they worked for less than 40 hours per week. The rest (46.4 per cent) were invisibly underemployed, which means they worked 40 hours or more but still wanted additional work hours. 104. In terms of technical-vocational education and training, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducts various industrial skills, livelihood and entrepreneurship training programs for PWDs. To enhance the skills and employability of PWDs, they are likewise mainstreamed in the national skills certification program. A total of 227 PWDs have been assessed and certified. In terms of access to education, 107 were granted scholarship under the Private Education Scholarship Fund Assistance and the TESDA-Asian Development Bank Technical Education and Skills Development Project. Employment of specific groups of workers 100. Employment opportunities for women expanded over thel990s. From 1990 to January 2002, 2.6, Principal policies and measures ensure that there is work for all pursued to the number of women workers increased from an average of 8 million to 10.2 million. On the average, women employment grew at an annual rate of 3.5 per cent as against 2.7 per cent of men. 105. A combination of policy and legal instruments embodies the Philippines’ commitment to ensure the availability of work and equal opportunities for employment. 101. From 1990 to 1999, the rate of working children aged between 10-14 years old showed an average Policy instruments annual growth of 3 per cent, from 715,000 to 898,000. 106. The Philippines is a party to ILC Nos. 100 (Equal Remuneration Convention), 111 (Employment and Their share in total employment averaged at 3 per cent, with 1991 registering the highest at 3.7 per cent Occupation Convention) and 122 (Employment Policy and lowest in 1998 at 3.0 per cent. With the passage Convention). of RA 6655, providing for free secondary education and advocacy and mobilization efforts aimed at curtailing child labor, the number of young workers dropped incessantly from 932,000 in 1996 to 831,000 in 1998. 102. In the employment of differently-abled persons, the Philippines is a party to ILC 159 (Convention 107. The Philippines adopted a new Constitution in 1987. The following provisions of the Constitution are relevant:* Secs. 9, and 18 of Art. Il; Sec. 12 of Art. XII, Sec. 3 of Art. XIIl and Sec. 2 (2) of Art. IX-B. 108. The following statutory instruments also embody the Philippines’ commitment to labor:** Concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment [Disabled Persons)). To harmonize local legislation with * the principles of ICL 159, Congress enacted RA 7277 to provide for rehabilitation, self development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into mainstream society. In 2000, DOLE introduced “Tulong Alalay sa Taong may Kapansanan” (literally, Persons and their Integration into the Mainstream * Program of Assistance for Persons with Disabilities) to assist the integration of differently-abled persons into mainstream society by providing them access to 72 cure ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS HANDBOOK RA 7277 “An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation, Self-development and Self-reliance of Disabled * of Society and for other Purposes.” RA9262 “An Act Defining Violence Against Women and Their Children, Providing for Protective Measures for Victims, Prescribing Penalties Therefore, and for Other Purposes”, Labor Code of the Philippines;