EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S.B SENATr ^ n r  
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CU J
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Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay i t
AN ACT
IMPROVING ACCESS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY TO PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE FACILITIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7277 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED 
PERSONS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Persons with Disability ("PWD") are one of the most vulnerable sectors in the 
Philippine society. The fact that many of the PWDs are living in poverty and the 
existence of systemic discrimination against them in the work place, among other 
institutions, prompted Congress to enact the Magna Carta for Persons with 
Disability ("Magna Carta").
The Magna Carta has since undergone several changes in view of the efforts of 
Congress to safeguard the rights and interests of PWDs and to address problems 
encountered in the implementation of the Magna Carta.
In the past, a mall chain was accused of discriminatory practices committed 
against a particular class of PWD. It appears that said mall had barred the entry 
of a PWD on the ground that he had in his company a guide animal, which is not 
allowed within the mall premises. Although the dog is not known as a vicious 
breed, the mall argued that there is still a risk to the safety of other mall patrons. 
Instead of trying to understand the condition of the PWD, the mall requested the


police to bodily drag said PWD who was protesting the treatment of the mall on 
his person.
The mall incident is not isolated. It has come to our attention that different 
estabiishments, pubiic or private have treated PWDs with guide animals 
differently.
For the above reasons, there is a need to amend the iaw to accommodate PWDs 
needing special assistance of guide animais.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestiy recommended.
MARIA LOURDES NANQ^S. BINAY 
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S.B. NO
SENATp.^ 
NO. 
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•19 J lin  P2■A^
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Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
rel:
AN ACT
IMPROVING ACCESS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY TO PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE FACILITIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7277 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED 
PERSONS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
Section 1. Paragraph (q) is hereby inserted under Section 4 of R.A. 7277 
as follows:
"Q.) GUIDE ANIMALS SHALL REFER TO ANIMALS THAT 
ASSIST PWDS TO COPE WITH THEIR SPECIFIC DISABILITIES."
Sec. 2. Section 25 of R.A. 7277 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 25. Barrier-Free Environment. -  The State shall 
ensure the attainment of a barrier-free environment that will 
enable persons with disability to have access in public and private 
buildings and establishments and such other places mentioned in 
Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, otherwise known as the "Accessibility 
Law." FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION, GUIDE ANIMALS 
ACCOMPANYING PERSONS WITH DISABILITY SHALL SIMILARLY 
ALSO BE ALLOWED ACCESS.
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The national and local governments shall allocate funds for 
the provision of architectural facilities or structural features for 
person with disability in government buildings and facilities."
Sec. 3. Section 27 of R.A. 7277 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 27. Access to Public Transport Facilities. -  The 
Department of Social Welfare and Development shall develop a 
program to assist marginalized persons with disability gain 
access in the use of public transport facilities. Such assistance 
may be in the form of subsidized transportation fare.
The said department shall also allocate such funds as 
may be necessary for the effective implementation of the public 
transport program for the persons with disability.
IN 
THE 
DEVELOPMENT 
OF 
ACCESS 
TO 
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, THE NEEDS OF PERSONS 
WITH DISABILITY WHO DEPEND ON GUIDE ANIMALS SHALL 
BE CONSIDERED.
The "Accessibility Law", as amended, shall be made 
suppletory to this Act."
Sec. 4. Section 34 of R.A. 7277 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 
34. 
Public Transportation. 
-  It 
shall 
be 
considered discrimination for the franchises or operators and 
personnel of sea, land, and air transportation facilities to charge
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higher fare or to refuse to convey a passenger, his orthopedic 
devices, personal effects, and merchandise by reason of his 
disability.
AN UNREASONABLE DENIAL OF TRANSPORTATION TO 
GUIDE ANIMALS OF THE CONCERNED PERSON WITH THE 
DISABILITY 
SHALL 
BE 
CONSIDERED 
AS 
AN 
ACT 
OF 
DISCRIMINATION."
Sec. 5. Section 36 of RA 7277 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 
36. 
Discrimination 
on 
the 
Use 
of 
Public 
Accommodations. -  (a) No person with disability shall be 
discriminated on the basis of disability in the full and equal 
enjoyment 
of 
the 
goods, 
services, 
facilities, 
privileges, 
advantages 
or 
accommodations 
of any 
place 
of 
public 
accommodation by any person who owns, leases, or operates a 
place of public accommodation. The following constitute acts of 
discrimination:
(1) denying a person with disability, directly or through 
contractual licensing or other arrangement, the opportunity to 
participate in or benefit from the goods, services, facilities, 
privileges, advantages, or accommodations of an entity by 
reason of his disability;
(2) affording a person with disability, on the basis of his 
disability, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other 
arrangement, with the opportunity to participate in or benefit 
from 
a 
good 
service, 
facility, 
privilege, 
advantage, 
or
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accommodation that is not equal to that afforded to other able- 
bodied persons; and
(3) providing a person with disability, on the basis of his 
disability, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other 
arrangement, 
with 
a 
good, 
service, 
facility, 
advantage, 
privilege, or accommodation that is different or separate form 
that provided to other able-bodied persons unless such action is 
necessary to provide the persons with disability with a good, 
service, facility, advantage, privilege, or accommodation, or 
other opportunity that is as effective as that provided to others;
(4) DENYING A PERSON WITH DISABILITY, ACCESS OR 
USE OF PUBLIC ACCOMODATIONS ON THE GROUND THAT HE 
IS ACCOMPANIED BY A GUIDE ANIMAL.
For purposes of this Section, the term "individuals or 
class of individuals" refers to the clients or customers of the 
covered public accommodation that enters into the contractual, 
licensing or other arrangement.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The DSWD in coordination 
with relevant government agencies shall issue the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act.
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance be held unconstitutional or be 
invalid, such parts affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


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Sec. 
8. 
Repealing Clause. -  All 
laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 9. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,