House panel OKs bill creating pension for PWDs

MANILA, Philippines — A House panel has approved a measure providing for a social pension program for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

At a virtual meeting last Friday, the special committee on PWDs chaired by Negros Occidental Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo approved House Bill 7571 or the Persons with Disabilities Financial Resilience Act that seeks to institutionalize the provision of financial assistance and protection for PWDs.

The measure intends to establish a pension program for all registered PWDs to augment the current government assistance programs for them.

Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor, author of the measure, proposed that the pension be pegged at P1,000 per month that could be disbursed on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis as may be deemed necessary and to be appropriated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The bill tasks the DSWD, National Council on Disability Affairs, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), National Privacy Commission and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to establish a National Persons with Disability Registry.

During the meeting, Arroyo called out the PSA for not updating its statistics on PWDs following reports that the agency is using antiquated 2011 statistics on record as the latest information.

Currently, PWDs are given 20-percent discount and exemption from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on the sale of goods and services.

Meanwhile, the panel also approved HB 5896 or the proposed “Universal Accessibility Act of 2019,” which mandates the application of universal design principles, standards and policies for the creation of barrier-free environments, transportation and tourism facilities to ensure and enhance the dignity, independence, mobility, safety as well as convenience of PWDs, senior citizens, women, children and other sectors.

The bill authored by Arroyo and Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto seeks to repeal Batas Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law.

Chatto explained that several provisions and specifications in BP 344 are no longer adequate to meet the needs of persons with orthopedic disabilities, the elderly, women and children in this time.

The DSWD, Department of Health, PhilHealth, Commission on Higher Education Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education and the National Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office also expressed support for the proposed measure.