TACLOBAN CITY – An ordinance that recognizes importance of person with disabilities (PWDs) in Leyte was approved by the members of the provincial board during their recent regular session.
The measure titled as “Ordinance declaring the month of July of every year as the person with disability month of the province of Leyte,” aims to institutionalize the observance of PWD month in the province and makes its observance locally initiated.
The ordinance’principal author Board Member Roque Tiu said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan said that the measure is reflective of the plight of PWDs and consider it imperative to conduct a province-wide and month-long activities that will promote the genuine and full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities, respect for their inherent dignity, suppression of discrimination, recognition of their vital role and contributions in society, good health, and sense of belonging with their fellow Leyteños.
This ordinance was lauded by various national government line agencies in the region in the consultative meeting headed by the committee chair of social services, Board Member Deborah Bertulfo, where the Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development suggested for the provincial government to create a Person with Disability Office that will help the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in dealing with various problems of PWDs and on program implementations.
DSWD Regional Director Letecia Diokno also promised to encourage other LGUs in the region to adopt similar ordinance for the benefit of their PWD constituents.
Tiu said that Leyte PWDs have rights and fundamental freedom and their full participation in activities of the province will result in their enhanced sense of belonging and significant advances in human, social and economic development of society and the eradication of poverty.
Tiu also cited Republic Act No. 7277, as amended by Republic Act No. 9442, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, which imposes upon the State as its duty to “advocate for and encourage respect for persons with disability” and “exert all efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to persons with disability.”
The ordinance also calls for the PSWDO, in coordination with other government agencies, to initiate the planning and to facilitate the implementation of province-wide and month-long advocacy projects and various related activities that will showcase the reflective concern of the provincial government for the welfare of persons with disabilities.
It also provides that PSWDO shall focus on activities that will promote among others, the human, the fundamental rights of PWDs; respect for inherent dignity of PWDs; suppression of discrimination on account of disability; recognition of the vital role and contributions of PWDs in the society; health services or medical missions; and activities that will enhance the full and effective involvement of PWDs in socio-economic undertakings on equal basis with others.
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