must ensure the welfare of the sector is protected and promoted. There is a need to create information and educational materials that explains the rights of persons with disabilities, the services available to them and how they can access the said services. The government should work with the media to increase their sensitivity and awareness on disability and gender issues to prevent stereotyping that reinforces discriminatory attitudes and perceptions towards women with disabilities. 3. Strictly implement laws to ensure protection and promotion of ESCR of women with disabilities There is a need to strictly implement and strengthen policies which protect and promote the ESCR of women with disabilities. Particularly, immediate action is needed to implement EO 410 on the economic independence programs for persons with disabilities and of Section 27 of the Magna Carta of Women, on social protection for women with disabilities. The national agencies and local government units should actively formulate policies, programs and services supporting women with disabilities particularly provisions to expand reasonable accommodation services, provide personal assistance services to persons with disabilities, and ensure sufficient public spending for disability-related programs and services. The legislative body should take active measures to ensure institutionalization of the annual budget for programs and services for persons with disabilities. Relevant government agencies should ensure accountability and transparency in the allocation of the mandatory 1 percent of government budgets to disability-related programs and services, in particular for women and girls with disability. 4. Improve data on women and girls with disabilities In the Philippines, data collection on disability is given low priority or often excluded from official statistics. Apart from the 2010 Census of Population and Household, there is no comprehensive source of data on conditions of women and girls with disabilities in the country. Data on women with disabilities across development indicators are non-existent or inadequate. For example, the Department of Education has no information on the participation of women and girls with disabilities on early childhood, tertiary, vocational education and other forms of other life-long learning. Similarly, the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey failed to identify women with disabilities as respondents. To effectively formulate policies and programs, there is an immediate need to improve the quality of data collection on demographic and socio-economic indicators concerning persons 26