Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTEENTH (18TH) CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No.
Introduced by: Deputy Speaker Jose L. Atienza, Jr.
EXPLANATORYNOTE
The government's concern for the well-being of persons with disability
(PWDS) in our country is clearly reflected in the enactment of Republic Act No.
7277 which was entirely geared for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-
reliance of PWD..
Thus, the law emphatically declared that PWDS are "part of
the Philippine society and it is our responsibility to give them full support to the
improvement of their well-being and integration into the mainstream of society."
The law contains the declared policy of the State that “recognizes the role of the
private sector in promoting the welfare of disabled persons and shall encourage
partnership in programs that address their needs and concerns."
To insure the fulfillment of this declared policy, Section 11, Article XIll of
the
Constitution
warrants
the adoption by the State of 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."
Consistent with these declared policies and objectives, the undersigned's
attention was called by an article written by Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal, a known
advocate for the rights of senior citizens (SCs) and persons with
disability
(PWDS), published in the Manila Times! and the Philippine Daily Inquirer² where
he lamented how "Congress abandoned our elderly and pwds" when we amended
Republic Act No. 9257 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003) and Republic Act
No. 9442 (An Act Amending
Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise Known As The
"Magna Carta For Disabled Persons"), which removed their privileges to a 20%
discount on toll fees under the radio frequency
identification
devices (RFID)
system, by mere deletion of the word "skyways" from the amended law.
1ThedayCongressabandonedour elderlyand PWDS-TheManilaTimes
2Bringback20-percentskywaytollfeediscountforelderlyandPWDS|InguirerOpinion
June 24, 2021
5:52 pm
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Indeed, a review of these laws clearly showed that what otherwise would
have been granted to our PWDS as part of their
benefits to augment
their
expenses for transportation, was denied of them.
This proposed legislation simply grants a 20% discount from toll fees paid
through
radio
frequency
identification
devices (RFID) or
similar
systems,
provided that the vehicle is registered under the name of the PWD and the latter
presents his/her PWD ldentification Card (ID) in order that this privilege may be
availed of.
Likewise, as pointed out by Macalintal, it will not be difficult to apply the
20-percent RFID discount. For a load of, say, P1,000, a PWD may pay P800 only,
or the P200 discount could be added to his or her RFID card, giving her or him a
total load of P1,200 for a P1,000 RFID load purchase."
Thus, this bill seeks to restore the said benefits and privileges to our PWDS
and to rectify the wrong committed against them with the full assurance that we
will never abandon themn in that their rights and privileges will always be our
concern.
legislation
will
surely redound to their benefits and welfare considering the
pandemic condition we are now suffering.
Whatever discount our PWDS could derive from the application of this
In view of the foregoing,
the
undersigned
respectfully
moves for
the
immediate passage of this bill in order to immediately restore the said benefits
and privileges to our PWSS and to recommend to the President to certify it as an
URGENT BILL to expedite its passage.
DEPUTYSPEAKEK JOŞE L. ATIENZA, JR.
Rgpresentative,BYHAY Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTEENTH (18TH) CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No.
Introduced by: Deputy Speaker Jose L. Atienza, Jr.
AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY,
FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 32(2)(7)
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, As AMENDED BY RA 10754,
OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “AN ACT EXPANDING THE BENEFITS AND
PRIVILEGES OF
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD)."
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House ofRepresentatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House ofRepresentatives of the Philippine
Congress Assembled:
SECTION 1.
Section 32(a) (7) of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended
by
RA 10754, otherwise known as “An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of
Persons with Disability (PWD)". is hereby further anmendedto read as follows:
««SEC. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to:
"(a) xxxX XXX XXXX
"(7) On actual fare for land
transportation
travel such as, but not limited to,
public utility buses orjeepneys (PUBS/PUJS), taxis, asian utility vehicles(AUVS),
shuttleservices,skyways andexpresswayswhose toll feesare paid through
the radio frequency identification devices(RFID)or similar systemsand
public railways, including light Rail Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and
PhilippineNationalRailways(PNR);In the availment of this privilege, the
vehicle must beregistered in the name of thePWDand the latter shall
presentand submit a copy of hisPWDIdentification Card(ID) to the toll
operator whenapplying for RFID. TheDepartment ofTransportationand
Communications(DOTC),Light Rail Transit Authority(LRTA),Philippine
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Toll Regulatory Board
(TRB) and Land
National
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) shall issue
correspondingcircularsor directivesto the publiclandtransport
Railways (PNR),
sector for the implementation of these
herewith, as well as requirements to these operators to disseminate
information on the benefits of the persons with disability by posters,
handbils orpamphletsonboard theirvehicles.
rules to ensure compliance
SECTION 2.
Repealing
Clause.-
Al
laws, decrees, executive orders,
issuances or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall hereby
revised or amend accordingly.
SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,