Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. ____
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE DISABILITY SUPPORT ALLOWANCE FOR 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the Philippines, persons with disabilities (PWDs) represent at least twelve percent 
(12%) of the adult population from ages 15 and above. This is based on the 
National Disability Prevalence Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics 
Authority in 20162018. They constantly face significant barriers in accessing 
education, health care, community participation, and civic engagement. In addition, 
due to the lack of support services, persons with disabilities who require personal 
assistance have to rely on their family members who in turn have to reduce their 
working hours, or stop working altogether to provide such support. 
PWDs and their families incur significant additional disability costs related to 
accessing essential services, seeking, and retaining work, and participating in 
society. These costs include private transportation, support for information and 
communication, assistive devices, and human assistance. Overall, persons with 
disabilities have less income and more expenses than those without disabilities, 
which greatly increases their vulnerability, and undermines their economic 
empowerment and ability to rise out of poverty. 
Accordingly, the government has enacted various legislation to provide PWDs with 
the opportunity to participate in mainstream society and to support their total 
well-being. Among the various measures that were adopted by the government are 
the granting of five percent (5%) to twenty percent (20%) disability discount on 
various services and commodities, granting of tax exemptions, and the mandatory 
and subsidized PhilHealth membership. 
While the above mentioned measures contribute to improving the socio-economic 
situation of the PWDs, they still have significant limitations. For one, while the 
mandatory PhilHeaIth membership is supposed to cover the healthcare needs of 
persons with disabilities, barriers to actually accessing these services remain 
unaddressed. For another, the benefits of the disability discount and tax exemptions 
July 1, 2025
6:05 pm
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are felt mainly by PWDs who already have a certain level of income and purchasing 
power. Moreover, while the 4Ps Program covers beneficiary households with PWDs, 
it does not include any specific measure to support them in addressing 
disability-related costs, such as rehabilitation services, maintenance medicines, 
personal assistance services, sign language interpreters and assistive devices to 
enhance their functioning, to name a few. In other words, there are still major gaps 
in coverage and adequacy, which leave most PWDs unsupported. 
According to the United Nations, the people's capacity to manage and overcome 
shocks, 
especially 
during 
the 
COVID-19 
pandemic, 
is enhanced when 
comprehensive social protection systems are in place. Such is the case of the 4Ps 
Program wherein all beneficiaries were reported to have immediately received 
emergency subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program of the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) two weeks after the approval of the law. 
To complement the existing measures and policies for the PWD community, this Bill 
seeks to adopt and progressively roll out a monthly disability support allowance 
amounting to Two Thousand Pesos (PHP 2,000.00). The monthly financial 
assistance aims to ease the burden suffered by low income families of children and 
youth with disabilities, and adults with disabilities who have no means to support 
themselves. Likewise, the disability support allowance shall be compatible with 
employment, at a reduced rate, to cover the disability-related costs associated with 
getting and keeping work, and to prevent unwanted pressures on persons with 
disabilities not to take up work for fear of losing the benefit. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
     Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
Bagong Henerasyon Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. ____
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE DISABILITY SUPPORT ALLOWANCE 
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. 
This Act shall be known as the "Disability Support Allowance for Persons with 
Disabilities Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
It is the declared policy of the State to adopt the generally accepted principles of 
international law as part of the law of the land. 
It is also vital that the State advances social justice in order to end poverty in all its 
forms, particularly the historical deprivation of support required by persons with 
disabilities for their effective inclusion and full participation in society. 
To attain a just and dynamic social order that will ensure prosperity and free the 
people from poverty through policies that will provide adequate social services, a 
rising standard of living and an improved quality of life for all, as well as policies that 
will promote full employment, the State shall undertake to develop social protection 
programs such as the granting of disability support allowances to persons with 
disabilities as a recognition of the additional costs associated with disability. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. 
For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined: 
A.
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) include those who have long-term physical,
mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various
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barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal 
basis with others.  
 
Persons who may fall under this definition are, but not limited to, the following: 
persons with psychosocial disability, persons with autism, persons with Down 
syndrome, persons who are blind, persons with low vision, persons who are 
hard of hearing or deaf, persons with rare diseases, and all other persons who 
are certified under the disability assessment and determination system. 
 
B.​
Disability is an evolving concept that results from the interaction between 
persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder 
their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. 
 
C.​
Barriers are anything that hinder persons with disabilities from enjoying or 
exercising all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, 
economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field, on an equal basis with 
others. Barriers in all its forms encompass inaccessible physical environments 
and transportation; the unavailability of assistive devices and technologies; 
inaccessible information both in form and content; non-adapted means of 
communication; gaps in service delivery such as unavailability of personal 
assistance and sign language interpretation service; discrimination including 
denial of reasonable accommodation; attitude, prejudice and stigma in society; 
programs, policies and laws infringing the rights of persons with disabilities as 
recognized under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 
 
D.​
Reasonable accommodation means necessary and appropriate modification 
and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where 
needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the 
enjoyment or exercise all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal 
basis with others. 
 
E.​
Progressive realization means undertaking measures to the maximum of its 
available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international 
cooperation, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of these 
rights, without prejudice to those obligations contained in the CRPD that are 
immediately applicable according to international law. 
 
F.​
Disability Assessment and Determination means the process by which 
disability of an individual is officially recognized for the purpose of eligibility 
determination to diverse entitlements. It is based on a human rights model of 
disability, with a focus on functional limitations, support requirements and 
barriers restricting participation. 
 
G.​
Auxiliary Aids and Services shall be those referred to under Republic Act No. 
7277. 
 
H.​
Personal assistance refers to all forms of live assistance and intermediaries, 
including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to 
facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public. 
 


I.​
Registered PWDs shall refer to any individuals who are duly registered in their 
respective localities as PWDs. 
 
SECTION 4. Coverage. 
 
All persons with disabilities, duly certified as such under the disability assessment 
and determination system that is based on a human rights approach, shall be 
covered by the provisions of this Act. 
 
In line with the progressive realization principle, the priority will initially be given to 
children with disabilities and adults with significant disabilities who are facing the 
highest barriers and disability-related costs. However, the aim is to eventually cover 
all registered persons with disabilities who have either no or low income, and as well 
as persons with disabilities who face disability-related costs which negatively affect 
an adequate standard of living. 
 
SECTION 5. Disability Support Allowance Program. 
 
A Disability Support Allowance Program shall be established under the Department 
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in consultation with the National 
Council on Disability Affairs and representative organizations of persons with 
disabilities. 
The 
Disability 
Support 
Allowance 
Program 
aims 
to 
cover 
disability-related cost of an individual according to what a person decides as 
immediate need, such as but not limited to transportation allowance, nutrition, 
maintenance medicines, rehabilitation services, temporary human assistance, 
among others. 
 
For working age adults, who are unemployed, it will provide a basic income security 
and will help cover disability-related costs for finding and keeping work. 
 
The initial amount of Two Thousand Pesos (PHP 2,000.00) a month per individual 
beneficiary is set for the disability support allowance, which will be indexed to 
inflation to preserve its impact on the standards of living and participation of people 
with disabilities. 
 
SECTION 6. Progressive Rollout. 
 
The Program shall be implemented in three (3) phases: 
 
A.​
Phase 1 – The initial phase of the Disability Support Allowance Program, to be 
implemented within three (3) years, shall prioritize provision of stipends to: 
 
1.​
Children with disabilities;  
2.​
Adults with significant disabilities who are facing the highest barriers and 
disability-related costs; 
 
3.​
Persons with disabilities who are recipients of social protection and 
economic empowerment programs such as but not limited to the 
Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Social Pension for Indigent 
Senior Citizens. 


 
B.​
Phase 2 – The second phase of the Program, to be implemented in the next 
three (3) years, shall include all registered persons with disabilities in low 
income or no income bracket. 
 
C.​
Phase 3 — The third phase of the Program, to be implemented in the next 
three (3) years, shall include all employed registered persons with disabilities 
who incur additional disability-related cost. 
 
SECTION 7. Eligibility. 
 
Eligibility to the disability support allowance shall be determined using a Human 
Rights Approach-based Disability Assessment and Determination Scheme, which 
shall be developed by the DSWD, in consultation with the National Council on 
Disability Affairs and representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities, 
parents of children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities including those who 
have no capacity to decide for themselves, with the guidance of Department of 
Health and World Health Organization experts on disability inclusion. 
 
SECTION 8. Disability Data Management System. 
 
To effectively implement the program, a Disability Data Management System shall 
be developed and shall be linked to a Community-Based Monitoring System 
(CBMS). 
 
SECTION 9. Policy on Disability Identification Cards. 
 
The Disability Identification Cards, issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 7277, 
otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities," as amended, 
along with other relevant laws, administrative issuances, and local ordinances, shall 
incorporate the information necessary for the granting of the monthly disability 
support allowance to eligible persons with disabilities. 
 
SECTION 10. Penal Provisions. 
 
The penalties shall apply to the following: 
 
A.​
Any person who through fraud or misrepresentation applies for, or aids in the 
application for benefits under this law without being a qualified person with 
disability entitled thereto shall suffer the following penalties: 
 
1.​ For the first violation, a fine of not less than Twenty-Five Thousand 
Pesos (PHP 25,000.00) but not exceeding Fifty Thousand Pesos (PHP 
50,000.00); and 
 
2.​ For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand 
Pesos (PHP 50,000.00) but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (PHP 100,000.00). 
 


B.​
Any person violating any provision of this Act and its implementing rules and 
regulations, except violations pertaining to Subsection (a) of this Section, shall 
be penalized with a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (PHP 
50,000.00) but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 
100,000.00). 
 
SECTION 11. Appropriations. 
 
The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations of the year following its enactment into law and 
thereafter. The initial amount of which shall be determined by the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Council on Disability Affairs 
(NCDA), and representatives from other major stakeholders including organizations 
of persons with disabilities. The allocated budget for the first year of its operation 
shall gradually increase in view of progressive realization. 
 
SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
 
Within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development, in consultation with the National 
Council on Disability Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, 
Department of Health, Philippine Statistics Authority, Organizations of Persons with 
Disabilities, and other relevant stakeholders from government agencies and 
non-government organizations, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 13. Report to Congress. 
 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development and National Council on 
Disability Affairs shall submit an annual report to Congress about the status of the 
implementation of this Act for purposes of review and recommendation of additional 
measures necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Act. 
 
SECTION 14. Separability Clause. 
 
If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
parts or provisions of this Act which are not affected shall continue to be in full force 
and effect. 
 
SECTION 15. Non-Impairment Clause. 
 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights 
recognized, granted, or made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific 
sectors under existing laws. 
 
SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. 
 
All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, Implementing Rules and 
Regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 


 
 


SECTION 17. Effectivity. 
 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette 
or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,