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 among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order and preserve the comfort and convenience of the inhabitants”.
On April 6, 2010, RA No. 10070 was approved ensuring the policies, programs and services for PDWs to be implemented at the local level for them to fully participate in building an exclusive society through the establishment of PDAO in all provinces, cities and municipalities.
Mr. Ablan said the measure is in support with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Order No. 2017-119 issued last September 13, 2017 regarding the Guidelines for the establishment of PDAO.
Relative to this, PDAO will sustain and will continuously carry out the task in monitoring, evaluation, data gathering, needs assessment, planning, establishment of production center, creation of job opportunities and advocacy in all cities and municipalities as the case maybe.
To carry out its mandate, the PDAO shall exercise its powers and functions such as to formulate and implement policies and programs for the promotion of the welfare of PWDs in coordination with concerned national government agencies particularly the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) and local government offices.
The positions include the disability affairs officer I, II and a disability affairs assistant.
Mr. Ablan however, said that the proposed ordinance depends on the availability of fund for appropriation.
Salaries and wages of personnel and MOOE of PDAO shall be drawn from the General Fund of the city.
For the succeeding years of implementation, the PDAO funding shall be included in the City’s Annual Plans and Budget.
Relative to this, the CSWDO record shows that the city government gives financial assistance to PWDs, gives assistive devices like wheel chairs prosthesis and referrals to other institutions.
The city government has also established and created the Stimulation Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC) giving free rehabilitation to 0 to 14 years old PWDs and free physical therapy catering the entire province of Ilocos Norte.