At the recent 1st Persons With Disability (PWD) Congress at the new Makati City Hall building. The PWDs sought the help of the local government and raised various proposals during the conference.
Social Welfare Department head Marjorie de Veyra said one of the major issues raised by  congress participants was their clamor to be given similar benefits with the country’s senior citizens.

With the increasing difficulty of coping with today’s high cost of living, the disabled residents asked for a 20% discount on food outlets,  drugstores, public transportation, recreation centers and medical facilities, among the benefits  given to Filipino citizens aged 60 and above.

“The PWD sector also requested the local government to give them the various benefits being enjoyed present by Makati’s senior citizens, such as the solo card under the Yellow Card Program, free burial assistance for indigent PWDs, free admission to all Makati cinemas and incentive allowances,” De Veyra said.

However, the suggestion was met with reluctance since under Republic Act 9257, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act and the Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, PWDs are not entitled to the same privileges.

“But we will facilitate the issuance of Philhealth cards to PWDs of Makati so that they can readily avail themselves of the program’s health benefits,” De Veyra said.

Aside from the benefits, the disabled persons also appealed for the strict implementation of the provisions of the Accessibility Law, or the Batas Pambansa Blg. 344. The law pertains to the accessibility of offices and business establishments for PWDs. Job opportunities and educational assistance for PWDs were also brought up.

In  response, Mayor Jejomar Binay, Representatives Teodoro Locsin and Agapito Aquino of the 1st and 2nd districts respectively, together with other  local government implementers and PWD groups signed a pact committing themselves to act on the series of recommendations made during the Congress.

“The PWDs’ wish list drawn up at the Congress, which contains their first-hand comments and suggestions, has given us a reliable basis for formulating and implementing long-term programs and services fully attuned and responsive to their prevailing needs,” Binay said.