GUIDELINES ON PROVIDING PROPER WELFARE OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES DURING THE ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE DUE
TO THE CORONA VIRUS 2019 (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
Memorandum Circular No.: 2020-066
Date: 31 MAR 2020
1. Background
1.1 The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through the Economic, Social, Cultural,
Rights (ESCR) Center, received several reports from persons with disabilities stating
their fears due to the uncertainties they experience during the current situation. They
reported the need for local government units to step up in particularly addressing their
needs as human persons and to immediately and adequately support them in these
challenging times.
1.2 Significantly, said persons with disabilities also belong to the marginalized groups
due to health and financial difficulties even prior to the enhanced community
quarantine. They feel that quarantine measures isolate them from accessing resources
to fulfil their needs.
1.3 The Magna Carta of the Poor RA 11291 requires that government should provide
poor people access to adequate food, decent work and highest attainable standard of
health on progressive realization.
1.4 This Department, through its power of general supervision over local government
units (LGUs), is a part of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging
Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) and is aware of the impact of COVID-19 on our people
under enhanced community quarantine particularly on the vulnerable groups to include
persons with disabilities under existing conditions experience severe difficulty in
accessing food and health services.
1.5 In view of the foregoing, this supplemental guideline is issued to ensure persons with
disabilities access to food and health services.
2. Purpose
These guidelines will provide uniform, programmatic and strategic approach by local
government units (LGUs) to fulfil the needs of persons with disabilities, among others,