Magna Carta for Disabled Persons approved by Senate
Posted on December 27th, 2009
The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons which would mandate local governments to have specific programs for people with disabilities has been approved by the Senate on its second reading. The act which was under Senate Bill 3650 or the proposed act establishing the institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities, a Persons with Disability (PWD) Affairs Office must be created in every province, city and municipality.
An estimated 9.7 million PWDs are expected to benefit from the bill once passed into law. The bill was approved unanimously on second reading by the Senate before it went on recess last December 16.
The bill calls for giving priority in appointing PWD with experience in providing services to his or her fellow PWDs.
The term “disabled persons” was also renamed into “persons with disabilities” in the bill. It is the internationally accepted and recognized term for people who are either hearing impaired, orthopedically impaired, visually impaired or mentally challenged.
The bill’s principal sponsor, Senator Pia Cayetano, said establishing institutional mechanisms would ensure that the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons would now be implemented and would help those with disabilities in their rehabilitation, self-development, and self-reliance and for their eventual integration into mainstream society.
Cayetano, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, said several Filipinos with disabilities have proven that they could stand out despite their physical limitations. “Disabilities should never be a hindrance to excel in one’s chosen field. By being assets in society, many PWDs are breaking barriers and changing the misimpression that they are a burden to the nation,” Cayetano said.
In places which are classified as fourth, fifth and sixth-class municipalities, the bill calls on local government units to designate a focal person who shall be responsible for coordinating and ensuring the delivery of programs and services to PWDs.
