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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Every Filipino citizen is guaranteed the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, 
right to information, and liberty of abode, among others, as enshrined in the Bill 
of Rights or Article ill of the 1987 Constitution. However, equality is different 
from equity- equality is where everyone receives the same treatment regardless 
of social status. Still, equity is uplifting those who are most in need to enable 
them to enjoy the necessities of life. One might think equality is what everyone 
deserves when equity and justice matter more. As a great Filipino once said, 
"those who have less in life should have more in law." 
Persons with disability (PWDs) need special care and attention from the 
government. Life with a disability is understandably challenging. Traveling from 
one place to another would take extra effort, especially for those who commute. 
Their difficulties mount with the dire lack of accessibility facilities in our streets 
and buildings. We see footbridges with only stairs to climb, pedestrian lanes not 
attended to by anybody who could assist them in crossing the road, and 
sidewalks without access ramps and railings. While the government has 
constructed numerous footbridges, underpasses, waiting sheds, sidewalks, and 
transportation terminals, many of these infrastructures lack accessibility 
features for PWDs. 
Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta For Disabled 
Persons And For Other Purposes, mandates the provision of accessible facilities 
and features in public infrastructure but may have failed in not explicitly 
providing for accessibility facilities in, among others, footbridges, underpasses, 
pedestrian crossings, waiting-sheds, sidewalks, shopping malls, and land, sea, 
and air transportation terminals, structures, and facilities. 
November 21, 2022
3:39 pm
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Through this bill, we hope to help enhance the mobility of our PWDs and alleviate 
their difficulties as they strive to become more productive members of our 
society. 
 
Therefore, this representation seeks the urgent passage of this measure. 
 
 
 
 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
TO FURTHER PROMOTE THE MOBILITY OF PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITY BY MANDATING CERTAIN ACCESSIBILITY 
FACILITIES AND SERVICES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO.  7277, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED PERSONS," AS AMENDED, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 25, Chapter VI, of Republic Act (RA) No. 7277 is 
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hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 25. Barrier-Free Environment. - 
The State shall ensure the 
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attainment of a barrier-free environment that will enable disabled persons 
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to have access in public and private buildings and establishments and 
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such other places mentioned in Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, otherwise 
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known as the "Accessibility Law". 
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The national and local governments shall allocate funds for the provision 
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of architectural facilities or structural features for disabled persons in 
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government buildings and facilities. SUCH ARCHITECTURAL FACILITIES 
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AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 
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A. 
FOOTBRIDGES 
AND UNDERPASSES 
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WITH WHEELCHAIR RAMPS THAT ARE ELEVATED AT A REASONABLE 
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ANGLE, RAILINGS, AND ACCESSIBLE ELEVATORS. 
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B. 
WAITING SHEDS WITH RAMPS, RAILINGS, AND SUCH OTHER 
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IMPROVEMENTS OR FACILITIES NECESSARY TO MAKE THEM 
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ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITY; AND 
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C. 
COVERED WALKS OR WALKWAYS LEADING TO THE NEAREST 
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT STOP OR TERMINAL, IF SUCH STOP OR TERMINAL 
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IS NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED (100) METERS AWAY FROM ANY 
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GOVERNMENT BUILDING. IN ADDITION, LAND, AIR, AND SEA 
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TRANSPORTATION 
TERMINALS 
SHALL 
PROVIDE 
FACILITIES 
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DEDICATED TO PWDS EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES, 
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INCLUDING TOILETS, TICKETING COUNTERS, WAITING LOUNGES, AND 
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PARKING 
AND 
DROP-OFF 
SPACES, 
WITH 
VISIBLE 
SIGNAGES 
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INDICATING THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE FOR PWDS.  OPERATORS OF 
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SHOPPING MALLS SHALL ENSURE THAT PWDS SHALL BE PRIORITIZED 
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IN THE USE OF ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS, AND THAT THERE ARE 
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RAMPS GOING TO AND FROM PARKING LOTS." 
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SEC. 2. 
Section 40 of RA 7277 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 40. Role of National Agencies and Local Government Units. 
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Local government units shall promote the establishment of organizations 
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for disabled persons in their respective territorial jurisdictions. National 
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agencies and local government units may enter into joint ventures with 
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organizations or associations of disabled persons to explore livelihood 
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opportunities and other undertakings that shall enhance the health, 
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physical fitness, and economic and social well-being of disabled persons. 
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THE DPWH AND DOTR, IN COORDINATION WITH THE LGUS, SHALL 
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CONDUCT OCULAR INSPECTION AND MONITORING OF GOVERNMENT 
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BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT. 
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THESE AGENCIES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE 
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AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITIES 
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REQUIRED IN THIS ACT." 
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SEC. 3. 
Section 46 of RA 7277 is amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 46. Penal Clause. – 
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(a) Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall suffer the 
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following penalties: 
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(1) For the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
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(P50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P 
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100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more 
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than two years, or both at the discretion of the court; and 
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(2) For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than One hundred 
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thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred thousand 
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pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment for not less than two years but not 
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more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court. 
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(b) Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished 
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with imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than 
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Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), but not more than Fifty thousand pesos 
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(P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. 
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(c) If the violator is a corporation organization or any similar entity, the 
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officials thereof directly involved shall be liable therefore. 
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(d) If the violator is an alien or a foreigner, he shall be deported immediately 
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after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings. Upon 
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filing of an appropriate complaint, and after notice and hearing the proper 
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authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business 
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permit, permit to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted to 
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any business entity that fails to abide by the provisions of this Act. 
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MAYORS OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHO ARE REMISS IN THE 
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IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT SHALL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY 
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SANCTIONED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RA 7160 AND OTHER EXISTING 
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LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, AND ORDINANCES." 
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SEC. 4. A new Section 46-A is hereby added and inserted after Section 46 
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of RA 7277, to read as follows:  
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"SEC. 46A. CITIZEN'S SUIT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ENFORCING THE 
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PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER VI (ACCESSIBILITY), ANY CITIZEN MAY FILE 
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AN APPROPRIATE CIVIL OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION IN THE PROPER 
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COURTS OR ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES AGAINST: 
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a) THE DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE WITH RESPECT TO ORDERS, RULES, 
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AND REGULATIONS ISSUED INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT; AND 
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b) 
ANY PUBLIC OFFICER WHO WILFULLY OR GROSSLY NEGLECTS 
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THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY OR ABUSES AUTHORITY IN THE 
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PERFORMANCE OF DUTY OR, IN ANY MANNER IMPROPERLY 
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PERFORMS THE DUTIES UNDER THIS ACT OR ITS IMPLEMENTING 
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RULES AND REGULATIONS; PROVIDED, THAT NO SUIT CAN BE FILED 
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UNTIL AFTER A NOTICE OF THE INFRACTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE 
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PUBLIC OFFICER AND NO APPROPRIATE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN 
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THEREON WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM RECEIPT OF SUCH 
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NOTICE." 
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SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The Secretaries of 
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Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of 
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Transportation (DOTr), shall promulgate the 
necessary 
rules 
and 
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regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary for the effective 
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implementation of this Act shall be charged to the budget of DPWH and 
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DOTr under the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of 
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the other provisions not affected thereby. 
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SEC. 8. 
Repealing 
Clause. 
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All 
laws, executive orders, 
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administrative orders, and rules and regulations inconsistent with this 
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Chapter are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
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general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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