Sec. Soliman pushes for speedy crafting of guidelines on expanded PWD law

Following the signing of Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability by President Benigno S.  Aquino, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will consult with concerned government agencies for the  immediate crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the law to ensure that seniors will enjoy their latest privileges.

RA 10754 mandates the DSWD, in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Finance (DOF), and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to promulgate the necessarily rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of the act.

DSWD Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that it is important to establish who should be the primary beneficiaries of this law to ensure that the privileges are not abused.

“Aside from the physiological disabilities, there are also psychological disabilities which should be taken into consideration in the IRR,” Sec. Soliman said.

She added that it is also important that the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), as mandated by Republic Act 10070 or An Act Establishing an Institutional Mechanism to Ensure the Implementation of Programs and Services for PWDs in every Province, City and Municipality, Amending RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, be already established in every LGU nationwide.

PDAO will work jointly with Local Social Welfare and Development Offices in monitoring the implementation of the law.  PDAO will also ensure that PWDs in their areas of jurisdiction are enjoying the benefits of the law.

Sec. Soliman said that PWDs, in the meantime, can refer their concerns and complaints to the NCDA.

She also lauded the signing of the law saying that it is long overdue especially that the needs of PWDs have become varied like special assistive devices, to ensure their mobility and development. (DSWD)