Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — Lawmakers from the ACT-CIS party-list are pushing for a monthly cash aid of ₱1,000 for indigent persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help with their daily subsistence.
House Bill No. 1754 was filed on Monday by Representatives Eric Yap, Edvic Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo, Ralph Tulfo, and Jeffrey Soriano who noted that many PWDs are burdened with other expenses, such as medical bills.
“They experience disproportionately high poverty rates as they have additional expenditures related to their disability which depend on their functional difficulties, health conditions, and support needs and other expenses related to the lack of accessibility and inclusiveness in their communities,” read the measure, a copy of which was released to the media on Tuesday.
Under the proposal, all poor PWDs, as certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), will receive the subsidy from the DSWD.
However, it also states this assistance “may be waived if the PWD is capable of supporting his/her own self or his/her family,” as assessed by the DSWD field office.
The measure further provides sanctions for those who will abuse the program. It said anyone who deliberately commits fraud to enroll a PWD who is not indigent shall be slapped with a fine of not less than ₱50,000 but not more than ₱200,000, depending on whether or not it is a first or a repeat violation.
Earlier, Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid also bared that one of his priority bills for the 19th Congress seeks to provide a ₱2,000 monthly pension for indigent PWDs.
