The housing units are too small for a family to live comfortably. Often, persons with disabilities were not consulted in the planning and design of the units. “Parang kwarto lang kasi ‘yong tinitirhan namin. ‘Yong mister ko kasi ay may mga anak, kung baga, isang kwarto lang kami. Gusto kong baguhin doon ay magkaroon kami ng kisame kasi mainit. Mababa ‘yong bubong. Sa katulad kong may karamdaman, lalo na kapag nagpa-chemo ako, gusto ko malagyan ng kisame.” “Sa ngayon, under renovation ‘yong bahay namin. Pero ang gusto ko pang mabago doon sa bahay namin ay ‘yong daanan po. Kapag kasi nagkaroon ng sunog, hindi basta-basta makakalabas, kasi ‘yong mga kapit-bahay namin, ‘yong pathway, o ‘yong harapan ng bahay nila ay ginawa nilang tindahan. ‘Yong daanan po ng palabas ng eskinita” Lack of access to income, benefits and housing loans Persons with disabilities are disproportionately poor having an income below of the national median average. Persons with disabilities who have regular incomes derived from either self-employment or open employment have access to housing loans from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) if they are employed by government; from the SSS if selfemployed or working for private entities; and the PAG-IBIG Fund or commercial banks with lending facilities for house, lot, or similar property acquisition. However, persons with disabilities are disproportionately poor having an income below of the national median average, and often without employment, they cannot access these housing benefits. The requirement of the GSIS, SSS, and PAG-IBIG programs that participants contribute for at least two years before they qualify for assistance also discriminates against persons with disabilities and other poor people, including those employed in the rural and non-formal sectors. Persons with disabilities can apply housing loans from commercial banks and other private lending institutions provided they satisfy the requirements prescribed by these lending entities, such as proof of adequate income. However, given the high number of persons with disabilities living in poverty, they seldom apply for housing assistance. Because many of them lack education, there is also little awareness of existing housing programs and how to access them. The high transaction costs of getting housing loans contribute as well to a lack of access to housing for persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are not also exempted from paying property taxes or given lower tax for their property and inheritance. High household maintenance and utility cost According to the Power Development Plan 2017 to 2040 the country’s power rates remains one of the highest in Southeast Asia, at par with the level in Singapore. The household 20