Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6478

House Bill No.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that:

“The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach
to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health
and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There
shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled,
women and children.” (Article XIII, Section 11)

Moreover, Article 20 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities states that:

State parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility
with the greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities, including
by:

a. Facilitating the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the

manner and at the time of their choice, and at affordable cost;

b. Facilitating access by persons with disabilities to quality mobility
aids, devices, assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and
intermediaries, including by making them available at affordable
cost.

The results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing showed that there are
1,442,586 PWDs in the country, representing 1.53% of the Philippine population. Out of
these, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has identified 302,421 poor
households with a family member with disability.

To lend a helping hand to our marginalized PWDS and to enable them to participate
in economic activities, community affairs, and nation-building, this bill seeks to provide
indigent PWDs with free assistive technology devices.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘FREDO D. VARGAS III


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6478

House Bill No.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES TO MARGINALIZED PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Chapter 1, Title One of Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise
known as the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons," is hereby further amended by
inserting new subsections to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined
as follows:

x x x

(p) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MEANS TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO BE
UTILIZED IN AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE OR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
SERVICE.

(q) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE MEANS ANY ITEM, PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT, OR PRODUCT SYSTEM, WHETHERACQUIRED COMMERCIALLY,
MODIFIED, OR CUSTOMIZED, THAT IS USED TO INCREASE, MAINTAIN, OR IMPROVE
FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
DEVICE INCLUDES MOBILITY DEVICES SUCH AS WALKERS AND WHEELCHAIRS, AS
WELL AS HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND PERIPHERALS THAT ASSIST PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY IN ACCESSING COMPUTERS OR OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES.

(r) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICE MEANS ANY SERVICE THAT DIRECTLY
ASSISTS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY IN THE SELECTION, ACQUISITION, OR
USE OF AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE.”


SEC. 2. Section 32 of Chapter 8, Title Two of the same Republic Act No. 7277 is
hereby further amended by inserting also a new subsection to read as follows:

“SEC. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to the following:
x x x

(1) PROVISION OF FREE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE INCLUDING
TECHNICAL AIDS, PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC DEVICES OR APPLIANCES
PARTICULARLY FOR PERSONAL USE OF ORTHOPEDICALLY-IMPAIRED,
HEARING-IMPAIRED, SPEECH IMPAIRED, VISUALLY-IMPAIRED, MENTALLY
RETARDED, AND MULTI-HANDICAPPED THAT WILL RESTORE THEIR SOCIAL
FUNCTIONING AND PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. PROVIDED, THAT THE BENEFICIARY IS A
MARGINALIZED PERSON WITH DISABILITY AS DEFINED IN SECTION 4 (K) OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, AS CERTIFIED BY THE SOCIAL
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
CONCERNED OR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT.

SEC. 3. Congressional Fund for Marginalized Persons with Disability. - There is
hereby created a Congressional Fund for Marginalized Persons with Disability in order
to carry out the provisions of this Act. The initial fund of Three Hundred Million Pesos
(P300,000,000.00) shall be constituted and automatically remitted directly to the
Department of Social Welfare and Development from the following sources:

(a) One Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (P150,000,000.00) from the proceeds of
Lotto of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; and

(b) The One Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (P150,000,000.00) from the income of
the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporations.

The Fund shall be administered by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development in coordination with the National Council on Disability Affairs.

SEC. 4. Annual Appropriations - The amount necessary for the continuing
requirements of this Act shall be included in the budget of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development in the annual General Appropriations Act following the
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
objectives of this Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and
rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.


SEC. 7.Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, whichever comes
first.

Approved,