More benefits to People with Disabilities

Disabled gets more benefits

By CHARISSA M. LUCI

April 15, 2010, 6:58pm

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday signed the amended Magna Carta for Disabled Persons which directs local government units to establish a “Persons with Disability Affairs Office” (PDAO) to ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities in every province, city and municipality nationwide.
Mrs. Arroyo signed the Republic Act No. 10070, a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3560 and House Bill No. 1387, on April 6.

Under the amended law, the local government units are ordered to promote the formation of organizations of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in their respective areas. The law also encouraged the national agencies and the LGUs to enter into joint ventures with organizations or associations of PWDs “to explore livelihood opportunities and other undertakings that shall enhance the health, physical fitness and the economic and social well-being of PWDs.”

Republic Act No. 10070 also called for the appointment of a qualified PWD to assume as a PWD affairs officer to manage and oversee the operations of the PDAO.
Among the responsibilities of the appointed PWD affairs officer are: formulate and implement policies, plans and programs for the promotion of the welfare of PWDs; represent PWDs in meetings of local development councils and other special bodies; and ensure that the policies, plans and programs for the promotion of the welfare of PWDs are funded by both the national and local government.

“In consideration of budget restraints, local executives of fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities may designate a focal person who shall perform the PDAO functions,” the law said.

It added that the establishment of a PDAO or the appointment of a focal person should be done in consultation and coordination with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), NGOs and people’s organizations (POs).

The President has tasked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in consultation with the NCDA, NGOs, and POs, to review the implementation of the law and to recommend to Congress the need to mandate the establishment of PDAO in the fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities.

The law also provides that the LGUs should ensure that necessary fund from any available local revenues is allocated for the implementation of the initiatives that will benefit PWDs in their respective jurisdictions.

The Amended Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on January 18 and January 26, respectively this year.