in government and commercial establishments; (c) realty tax incentives and (d)
exemption from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for persons with disabilities.
7
Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 or the Accessibility Law of 1983 aims to enhance mobility
of persons with disabilities by requiring certain buildings and facilities to ensure
architectural or structural features to increase mobility of PWDs as well as enable them
to participate fully in the social life and development of society. This law however, is
specific to persons with mobility impairment. Advocates call for a review of this law to
make it more inclusive of other impairment types, in line with the UN CRPD.
As a response to the 3rd Asia and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, the
Philippine government signed Proclamation No. 68, Series of 2013 provides the
framework for the Philippine Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013-2022. This
mandates the NCDA to formulate the National Plan of Action for the Decade, and
directs all government agencies and local government units to implement plans,
programs and activities towards the development of persons with disabilities in line
with the goals and targets laid out in the framework.
These laws and policies, however, do not have explicit provisions recognizing multiple
discrimination against women with disabilities. In 2010 RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of
8
Women was signed into law. The Magna Carta of Women is a comprehensive
women’s rights law in the Philippines that provides for protection from violence and
lays out the rights of marginalized groups of women, including women with disabilities.
RA 9710 recognizes women with disabilities as a marginalized group of women and
specifically mentions them as partners, beneficiaries, and targets of policies and
programs. It has clear recognition of rights of women disabilities under specific
provisions, namely protection from violence (sec. 12), equal access and elimination of
discrimination in education, scholarships and training (sec. 16), and social protection
(sec.30).
The Women’s Empowerment, Development and Gender Equality Plan (WEDGE) OF
2013-2016 also identifies priority gender issues and of women with disabilities namely:
discrimination in accessing basic social services and economic opportunities, lack of
access to justice for victims of gender-based violence, and lack of participation in
decision-making structures and in program design and implementation. The WEDGE
Plan sets out gender-responsive strategies to address these priority issue. Among them
are monitoring of programs, policies, and services, advocacy for gender-responsive
service delivery for women with disabilities, capability building for LGUs, for PWD
organizations, and women with disabilities.
7
Batas Pambansa Bilang 344- An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Persons with Disabilities by Requiring Certain
Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices (Accessibility
Law) of 1983
8
Republic Act 9710- An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women
[4]