Forum updates PWDs on their rights, benefits

A blind person uses his mobile phone to record the forum. (CDN PHOTOS/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Groups of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from all over Cebu attended a forum on their rights, privileges and benefits at the Social Hall of Cebu City Hall last Friday.

Dubbed “Ang Pagtambayayong Alang Sa Atong Kaigsuonang PWD (Cooperation for our PWD brothers and sisters),” the forum featured speakers from government agencies who explained the rights and benefits for PWDs under Republic Act No. 10754 or the Magna Carta for PWDs Act.

Nurse Erika Datan of the Department of Health (DOH) said among the benefits enjoyed by PWDs is the exemption from value-added tax (VAT).

“This is on top of the 20 percent discount for PWDs,” she said.

While the DOH is still waiting for the final implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for RA 10754 that was passed in March last year, Datan said most hospitals and pharmacies are already honoring this privilege.

She said PWDs must have their PWD ID card, doctor’s prescription, and purchase booklets provided by their local social welfare or health office.

Forum participants raise their crutches as they pose for a group photo with Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo (fourth from left in the front). (CDN PHOTOS/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Social worker Virginia Piccio of Cebu City Hall’s City Social Welfare Service Office (CSWS) said an additional P24 million was allocated by the city government to pay for the enrollment of the city’s PWDs to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

“We will be disseminating this program in each of the city’s barangays. We will just contact you on how you can avail of this,” she said.

Cebu City has 14,000 registered PWDs.

Piccio said they have to review the list of PWDs in Cebu City after learning that some of them aren’t qualified.

Later in her speech, PWD advocate Adela Kono said the public should treat their PWDs better.

“Many times, we feel like an object because sometimes people hit us or our wheelchairs. But they don’t look back and apologize. Say excuse me and I’m sorry, it will go a long way,” she said.

Kono said other simple but beneficial gestures include not staring at them or giving them a look of pity, giving PWDs ample time to use toilets and helping keep elevator doors open until they can pass through safely.

Kono acknowledged that while Cebu City and Cebu province were the first to approve ordinances to promote barrier-free tourism for PWDs, they have yet to feel its benefits.

Last Friday’s forum was organized by students of the Department of Political Science of the University of San Carlos (USC) as part of their iCollaborate program which started in 2013. This year’s theme and focus is on PWDs.

Pia Philina Jayme, executive director of iCollaborate 2017, said they wish to solicit suggestions from stakeholders in order to help improve the welfare of PWDs in the cities and province.

“(Through collaborative planning) we will identify the gaps based on their experiences. We will lobby for amendments to the city and municipal councils. We want to make the rights real for PWDs,” she said.