Archive for the ‘NEWS’ Category

The Deaf were not left out.

GMANews.TV teamed up with several deaf educators to interpret the SONA into sign language for those watching the website’s livestream of the speech.

Longtime deaf interpreter Jojo Esposa, an educator from the Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf (MCCID), signed President Aquino’s speech live for the benefit of GMANews.TV’s deaf users. Having worked as an interpreter since 1992, Esposa said that this was the first time in the Philippines that the SONA has been interpreted into sign language for an online webcast.

The idea for doing a sign language interpretation of the SONA began when some members of the deaf community were offended by a phrase included in the English translation of President Aquino’s inaugural speech, explained Maria Veronica Perez, Dean of the De la Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies or DLS-CSB-SDEAS. DLS-CSB-SDEAS was one of several schools for the deaf that have partnered with GMANews.TV and other broadcast news organizations to interpret the SONA into sign language. The other schools are the Philippine Deaf Resource Center, and the MCCID College of Technology, and the Philippine School for the Deaf.

SONA translated into sign language

Law directs govt units to have offices for handicapped persons

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed into law an amendment to an existing law directing all government units to set up an office that will oversee the welfare and promote the rights of people with disability.

Republic Act 10070 directs the setting up of Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in all government units. An amendment to RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, it was signed last April 6.

Under the new law, a PDAO shall be created in all provinces, city and municipality to be headed by a qualified disabled person. Its responsibilities include formulating and implementing policies, plans, and program that will promote the welfare of disabled persons; ensuring the implementation of the Accessibility Law; representing the sector in meetings of local development councils and other special bodies; and gathering relevant data on the disabled persons in their localities.

The PDAO shall also disseminate information on programs and activities of disabled persons including training and employment opportunities; monitor fundraising programs and activities for the sector seek donation from local and foreign donors; and ensure that programs and policies for the promotion of the welfare of the sector are funded by both national and local government, among others.

The law also directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Council on Disability Affairs and relevant groups to review after three years the implementation of the law.

It also instructs the DWSD to ensure that annual budget is provided to fund programs and provide support for disabled persons.

RA 10070 is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3560 that was passed by the Senate on Jan. 18, and House Bill No. 1387 that was passed by the House of Representatives on Jan. 26. – KBK, GMANews.TV

Senator Pia S. Cayetano has welcomed the passage by the Senate of a proposed measure which seeks to give a voice in local governance to the country’s estimated 9.7 million persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Senate Bill No.3560, otherwise known as “An Act establishing the institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities in every province, city and municipality,” the measure was approved unanimously on second reading by the Senate on December 16 before going on a four-week recess.

Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and the bill’s principal sponsor, said Senate Bill No.3560 mandates the creation of a “Persons with Disability Affairs Office” (PDAO) in every province, city and municipality.

In the case of fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities, the bill calls on LGUs to designate a “Focal Person” who shall be responsible for coordinating and ensuring the delivery of programs and services for PWDs. Priority in appointment should be given to a PWD with experience in providing services to his or her fellow PWDs.

The measure also renames the term, “disabled persons” into “persons with disabilities” - the internationally accepted and recognized term for people who are either: 1) hearing impaired; 2) orthopedically impaired; 3) visually impaired; and 4) mentally challenged.

Cayetano said several Filipinos with disabilities have proven they can 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.”

In her sponsorship speech, Cayetano cited several outstanding PWDs, and more can follow with enough support at the local government level:

• Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, whose polio did not prevent her from serving her province mates, a 2008 Ramon Magsaysay awardee for government service;

• Roselle Ambubuyog, visually impaired student from Ateneo who graduated Summa Cum Laude and now heads a number of foundations for the blind while acting as consultant for a US firm that develops new products for the blind;

• Ana Kristina Arce, 23-year-old hearing impaired student who is the first to graduate magna cum laude from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde;

• Olegario “Ollie” Cantos VII, visually impaired Filipino-American lawyer who is presently the Vice-Chairman of United States Pres. Barack Obama’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities; and

• Adeline “Ads” Dumapong-Ancheta, the first Filipina Paralympics medalist who won the bronze medal in powerlifting in the 2000 Paralympics, and has recently gone to swimming despite having no legs below the knee and no right hand..

“Passing Senate Bill 3560 is a step towards the right path. Establishing these institutional mechanisms would ensure that the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons will now be implemented and thus helping our brothers and sisters living with disabilities in their rehabilitation, self-development, and self-reliance and for their eventual integration into the mainstream of society,” Cayetano stressed.

Other coauthors of the measure are Senators Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, Miriam Defesor-Santiago, Edgardo Angara, Manny Villar, Antonio Trillanes IV, Mar Roxas, Bong Revilla and Alan Peter Cayetano.

Jimson G. Forte, of Mawaque High School SPED Class, wins First Place in the Charcoal Painting Category representing the province of Pampanga, held on July 22, 2009 at SM Pampanga on the occasion of the regional celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week 2009, sponsored by the Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-Region III)

Filipinos with disabilities may now avail of discounted medicines and other health related services!

The Department of Health (DOH) recently issued Administrative Order No. 2009-0011 detailing the guidelines for the provision of medical and related discounts and special privileges to persons wtih disabilities pursuant to Republic Act No. 9442 , an act amending the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities (R.A. No. 7277).

Under the said Administrative Order, persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20% discount in the purchase of branded and unbranded generic medicines from all establishments dispensing medicines for the exclusive use of persons with disabilities; and 20% discount for the cost of medical, dental and rehabilitation services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in service wards and sections of government health facilities in accordance with Clinical Practice Guidelines or Hospital Treatment Protocols and in all private hospitals and medical facilities.

Other discounted services include psychological or developmental tests in service wards of government hospitals; and speech therapies or services in all private hospital and medical facilities.

In the same administrative order, persons with disabilities who are not yet non-paying PhilHealth members may become PhilHealth members if they are sponsored or enrolled by their respective Local government Unit (LGU) or voluntarily enroll themselves as individually paying members.

To avail of the discount, a person with disability must present his//her identification card issued by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) or by the Local Government Units (LGUs) where he/she resides. In addition, a purchase booklet issued by the LGUs to persons with disabilities for free shall be presented every time a purchase of medicine is made.

To all Filipino Persons with Disabilities (PWD), here is another good news! The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has approved the special five percent (5%) discounts of the regular retail price on all basic necessities and prime commodities.

Following the Republic Act 9442 otherwise known as Amended Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, the DTI together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a joint Administrative Order 2, Issue 2008 granting special discounts to all PWDs.

As defined on the order, “basic necessities” refers to rice, corn, bread, fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed milk, infant formulas, fresh vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, firewood, charcoal, candles and other commodities as may be classified by both the DTI and DA.

The discounts can be availed on any retail stores including supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores and sari-sari stores. In order to receive this discount, a PWD must present his/her:

1. PWD ID issued by their local governments;
2. Purchase Booklet (also issued by the local governments)

To know more about these privileges, kindly download the Administrative Order in PDF format here.

Leaders of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) together with some officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Agriculture (DA) dicussed in the DTI office in Makati City the special benefits and discounts for Persons with Disability.

The PWD sector led by Mr. Lauro Purcil and Mr. Manuel Agcaoili discussed the joint administrative order by the DTI and DA. This was on the Implementing Rules and Regulations on the Grant of Special Discounts to Persons with Disability on the Purchase of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities pursuant to Section 32 (j) of Republic Act 9442 also known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

The joint administrative order which is still pending due to some expected revisions was based on the Senior Citizens Act. The primary objective of this is that every person with disability shall enjoy a special discount of five percent (5%) of the regular retail price of basic necessities and prime commodities.

In order for the PWDs to avail the said privileges, they must present their identification card (ID) issued by the local government unit where he/she resides. The problem with this is that not all local government units (LGU) especially those in the rural places were aware about the PWD’s Magna Carta. “The problem when it comes to the ID matter is that not all city or municipal governments issuing the said thing. Here only in the Metro Manila, only few cities were issuing ID cards for PWD: Makati City, Marikina City, Quezon City and the City of Manila.

Agcaoili also noticed that the discounts were only available in big time shopping malls and groceries and hardly found in public markets, talipapa (small markets) and sari-sari store (variety stores). “Most of the PWDs do not come from rich families. Majority of them belong to the less fortunate ones, so their appeal to the DTI to inform the owners of the sari-sari store they must also follow in accordance with the said Magna Carta.

The stores which give discounts to the senior citizens and the PWDs are given tax credits by the government via the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). However, the BIR does not give tax credits to the store owners and so they do not give any discounts anymore. “Discounts like this were benefits given by the government and should be imposed properly. The private sector only supports what the government really wants. Wag na po nating pahirapan ang may kapansanan, hirap na po sila” [Don’t let the person’s with disability to suffer more, they were already suffering at the moment], Mr. Agcaoili added.

Then DTI assures that the discounts can be availed nationwide by the PWDs. Some towns especially those in rural areas have not been properly informed yet. And this has resulted in confusion among sellers.

Kiangan, Ifugao – The Municipal Early Childhood Care and Development Coordinating Committee (MECCDCC) sponsored a two day training-seminar to Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers, parents and families of children with disabilities (CWDs) last March 1-2, 2007. According to Municipal Mayor Albert Indunan, the prevalence of children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, mental retardation and sensory impairments in the municipality is at an alarming rate. Based on records, a total of 10% of its population of about 15,000 is affected with a number of cases still unreported. The seminar is in support to the ECCD’s objective to provide early identification, intervention and referral to developmental disorders and disabilities. With this, the training aimed to educate the community on the causes and possible interventions for disability. This initiative will hopefully contribute to the development of CWDs into productive adults and members of the society and to capacitate families and service providers in caring for them.

The Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) in coordination with the Stimulation Therapeutic Activities Center (STAC), an NGO member of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities (RSCWPWD) served as Resource Persons.

Highlights of the training included the orientation of the community on the developmental stages of children from zero to six years of age and the roles and responsibilities of the community by Ms. Angelie Tabuno, Regional ECCD Coordinator of CAR. The facilitators from STAC: Ms. Maria Liza S. Garcia, Physical Therapist; Ms. Fleurdeliza B. Nawew, Special Education Teacher; Mr. Sonny Jim Sali, Occupational Therapist discussed the various categories of disabilities, causes, manifestations and symptoms, prevention and intervention for disabilities.

The advocacy for parents to subject their children for New Born Screening, a clinical test conducted from blood samples of newborns at a certain stage and time to identify potential metabolic disorders that may cause disability, mental retardation and even death was stressed during the sessions.

The training also provided an actual demonstration of therapeutic exercises to rehabilitate and strengthen the physical or sensory impairment of the CWDs. The training of DCWs on special education and behavioral modification techniques opened learning opportunities for CWDs in the day care centers. These contributed to the empowerment of and capacitating the CWD to develop personal esteem in improving their lives independently. Generally, the participants developed a better understanding on the misconceptions and discrimination of the society towards disability caused by cultural beliefs and traditions, wrong upbringing and ignorance.

The results of the training further inspired the municipality led by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO), Ms. Tina Talosig to push through with the proposed establishment of a Community–Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and SPED Centers, intensify networking and linkaging for financial and rehabilitation assistance, as well as localize an organization of PWDs who will lobby for services and benefits.

The Makati City government will officially launch the Person with Disability (PWD) Transport ID Card Plus tomorrow and will be distributed to 2,353 qualified recipients at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle.

Makati Social Welfare Development (MSWD) chief Marjorie de Veyra said the PWD Transport ID Card Plus entitles cardholders to receive fare discounts at the Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit, provincial buses and jeepneys in Makati. Additional benefits for cardholders are still being negotiated.

“Initially, the ID will offer discounts covered by national laws. We are studying other means that will enhance the services extended to disabled persons in Makati,” De Veyra said.

The distribution will be followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding to be led by Mayor Jejomar Binay, Director Catalina Fermin of the National Council for the Welfare of the Disabled Person, Director Honorita Baydan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region, and to be witnessed by the PWD Federation, local transport groups, and other stakeholders of the PWD Transport ID Plus.

Binay said the project, spearheaded by the MSWD aims to extend assistance to the city’s disabled citizens.

He noted that the project is backed by City Ordinance No. 2006-016, which is in accordance with Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons.

“It will grant incentives and benefits to PWD cardholders up to 59 years old,” Binay said.

PWD aged 60 years and above are already qualified for the national ID card for senior citizens.

The Podium, the upscale mall in Ortigas Center, was recently honored as a disabled-friendly establishment during the recent Apolinario Mabini Awards on the occasion of its anniversary in Malacañang Palace.

The mall, which is a joint venture between the SM Group and the Keppel Group of Singapore, was cited for being responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities by providing them with disabled-friendly facilities and services. These include ramps, rest room cubicles, and disabled parking slots, which can make their access to, exit out, and stay in the establishment more pleasant and convenient. Another SM Mall, SM City Dasmariñas, was also awarded as a disabled-friendly establishment during the said event.

President Arroyo herself handed the award to representatives from The Podium: Keppel Properties VP for Development Ng Chin Fei, SM Supermalls AVP Liza Silerio, and Podium Mall Manager Christian Mathay. Also present during the awarding were Kate Gordon, Philippine Foundation of the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Manuel Agcaoili, and Representative Amelita Villarosa.

Launched by the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD) in 1974, the annual awards were named after national hero Apolinario Mabini. Known as the Sublime Paryltic, he did not make his disability a hindrance to the creative genius he contributed to the Philippine revolution.

The Apolinario Mabini Awards were established with the aim of recognizing individuals, groups and agencies that have made outstanding contributions in the field of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, and promoting the wider recognition of persons as self respecting and self reliant citizens.

Other Award categories include Disabled Filipino of the Year, Disabled Group of the Year, Employer of the Year, Local Government Unit of the Year, Rehabilitation Volunteer of the Year, and the Mabini Presidential Award.