The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Rasimo proposed the establishment of a financial aid for children with disabilities (CWDs) program. He said this will affirm the municipal government’s role in providing additional benefits and privileges for persons with disabilities (PWD’s) as provided under RA 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended by RA 9442. Mr. Rasimo explained that the program aims to institutionalize the grant of a regular financial aid “to those who have less in life”, particularly indigent children with disabilities. As the author of the measure, the vice mayor and council presiding officer said the Vintar government adheres to the declared policy of the state by prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, sick elderly, disabled, women and children as provided in Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. The program will provide to all qualified indigent ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rages on, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here approved an ordinance providing priority lanes for differently abled persons (DAB), senior citizens (SC) and pregnant women in commercial establishments and government facilities. Laoag councilor Handy Lao said the ordinance aims to address reports that DABs, SCs and PWs are the people most adversely affected by the socio-economic situation; and they also encounter other barriers in entering public and private facilities. Mr. Lao, who authored the measure, stressed that these additional “barriers” for the said groups just add more burden to them, especially in these times. He noted that “giving compassion and respect to these marginalized sectors”, this should translate to giving them priority and express lanes in entering aforementioned establishments and facilities. Mr. Lao disclosed that establishments’ non-compliance with the ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —City councilor Handy T. Lao is urging the local government and private businesses here to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). In an approved Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution which he sponsored, Mr. Lao said he based the measure in pursuant to Republic Act A No. 9994, Section 5 (a) which states, “Senior Citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or, be re-employed, shall be provided information and matching services to enable to be productive members of society”. He also noted Section 5 of RA No. 7277 which also provides, “No disable person shall be denied access opportunities for suitable employment”. Mr. Lao further stressed that the city government should also adopt the national government’s recognition of the role of senior citizens and PWDs in developing a strong Filipino nation and their integral part in the society. The city promotes and gives full support to the improve...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —A city councilor here sponsored a resolution calling for the creation of Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) with its corresponding personnel. Laoag councilor Roque Benjamin Ablan, the resolution’s sponsor, said the measure aims to promote the social justice in all phases of national development as mandated by the 1987 Philippine Constitution in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies. Under Article 13 of the same Constitution includes disabled persons as one of the priority sectors to be given access to essential goods and services at affordable cost and further provides that the State shall establish a special agency for disabled persons for their rehabilitation, self-deployment and self-reliance and their integration into the mainstream of the society. Section 16 of RA No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 also states that “Government units shall ensure and support amo...