EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
• V
(0ti tf 01 ti)'.
'19 J'JL 29 All :15
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIII Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution states 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 
people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged 
sick, elderly, disabled, women and children, x x x."
Several laws were already enacted to address the concerns of the PWDs. 
Republic Act No. 7277, or the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons" was signed on 24 
March 1992. Subsequently, RA 9442 (Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of PWDs), 
RA 10070 (Establishing Institutional Mechanism to Ensure the Implementation of 
Programs and Services for PWDs), RA 10524 (Expanding the Positions Reserved for 
PWDs), RA 10754 (Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of PWDs), RA 11228 
(Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for PWDs) were enacted.
The number of persons with disability (PWDs) among our populace has 
increased in the recent years. According to the records of the Philippine Statistics 
Authority, "of the 92.1 million household population in the country, 1,443 thousand 
persons or 1.57 percent had disability, based on the 2010 Census of Population and


Housing (2010 CPH). The recorded figure of persons with disability (PWD) in the 2000 
CPH was 935,551 persons, which was 1.23 percent of the household population." 
Further, PSA reported on 03 May 2019 that, "results of the National Disability 
Prevalence Survey (NDPS) showed that, in 2016, around 12 percent of Filipinos age 
15 and older experienced severe disability. 
Almost one in every two (47%) 
experienced moderate disability while 23 percent with mild disability. Almost one-fifth 
(19%) experience no disability."
In the continuing endeavor of the government to improve the welfare of the 
PWDs, this measure seeks to enhance the benefits of the PWDs as follows:
• 
increase the proportion of employment of PWDs both in government agencies
and private sector;
• 
provide incentives to employers who hire PWDs as regular employees;
• 
provide P500.00 monthly stipend to PWDs;
• 
provide free assistive technology services in the workplace;
• 
provide free assistive devices and technologies to PWDs;
• 
exempt PWDs from passport processing fee and other fees;
This measure was approved on Third Reading by the House of Representatives 
and was transmitted to this Chamber where it was sent to the Archives due to the 
adjournment of the 17th Congress.
The urgent passage of this bill is highly recommended.
RAMOrnBONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
O ’d-'C; t 
%>vanarp
SENATE
'19 
.!lil 29 All ;15
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representative o f the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 4 of Chapter 1, Title One of Republic Act No. 7277, as
2 
amended, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities" is
3 
hereby amended by inserting new subsections to read as follows:
4 
"Sec. 4. Definition o f Terms. -  [For purposes of] AS
5 
USED IN this Act[, these terms arc defined-as follows]:
6 
"x X X
7 
"(Q) ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES
8 
REFER 
TO 
WHEELCHAIRS 
AND 
WALKERS,
9 
PROSTHESES, 
HEARING 
AIDS, 
AIDS 
FOR 
THE
10 
VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND SPECIALIZED COMPUTER
11 
SOFTWARE, HARDWARE AND PERIPHERALS THAT
12 
INCREASE 
MOBILITY, 
HEARING, 
VISION, 
OR
13 
COMMUNICATION 
CAPACITIES, AMONG 
OTHERS,
14 
THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO MAINTAIN OR
15 
IMPROVE AN 
INDIVIDUAL'S FUNCTIONING AND
16 
INDEPENDENCE TO FACILITATE PARTICIPATION AND


1 
TO ENHANCE OVERALL WELL-BEING BY HELPING
2 
PREVENT IMPAIRMENTS AND SECONDARY HEALTH
3 
CONDITIONS; AND,
4 
"(R) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYSERVICER^?ERS
5 
TO ANY SERVICE THAT DIRECTLY ASSISTS A PERSON
6 
WITH DISABILITY IN THE SELECTION, ACQUISITION,
7 
OR 
USE 
OF 
AN 
ASSISTIVE 
DEVICE 
AND
8 
TECHNOLOGY."
9 
Sec. 2. Section 5 of Chapter 1, Title Two of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended,
10 
is hereby further amended to read as follows:
11 
"Sec. 5. Equal Opportunity for Employment -  No [disabled]
12 
person WITH DISABILITY shall be denied access to
13 
opportunities for suitable employment. A qualified [disabled]
14 
employee WITH DISABILITY shall be subject to the same
15 
terms and conditions of employment and the same
16 
compensation, privileges, benefits, fringe benefits, incentives
17 
or allowances as a qualified able-bodied person.
18 
[Five] AT LEAST TWO percent {(S%)] (2 % ) of all [casual,
19 
emergency and contractuaF positions in the Dcpartmont-e f
20 
Social Welfare and Development; Health; Education,-Cuttofe
21 
and Sports; and other government agencies, - offices or
22 
corporations engaged in social development shall be reserved
23 
for disabled persons] POSITIONS IN ALL GOVERNMENT
24 
AGENCIES, OFFICES OR CORPORATIONS SHALL BE
25 
FILLED 
UP 
WITH 
QUALIFIED 
PERSONS 
WITH
26 
DISABILITIES: 
PROVIDED, 
THAT 
PRIVATE
27 
CORPORATIONS ARE MANDATED TO RESERVE AT
28 
LEAST ONE PERCENT (1% ) OF ALL POSITIONS FOR
29 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
30 
THAT THOSE PRIVATE CORPORATIONS WITH MORE
31 
THAN ONE THOUSAND (1,000) EMPLOYEES SHALL


1 
RESERVE AT LEAST TWO PERCENT (2% ) OF ALL
2 
POSITIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES."
3 
Sec. 3. Section 8 (a) and (b) of Chapter 1, Title Two of Republic Act No. 7277,
4 
as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
5 
"Sec. 8. Incentives for Employers. -  (a) To encourage the
6 
active participation of the private sector in promoting the
7 
[welfare] 
RIGHTS 
of 
[disabled] 
persons 
WITH
8 
DISABILITIES and to ensure gainful employment for
9 
qualified 
[disabled] 
persons 
WITH 
DISABILITIES,
10 
adequate incentives shall be provided to private entities which
11 
employ [disabled] persons WITH DISABILITIES.
12 
"(b) Private entities that employ [disabled] persons W ITH
13 
DISABILITIES who meet the required skills or qualifications,
14 
[either as regular employee,] AS apprentice or learner, shall
15 
be entitled to an additional deduction, from their gross
16 
income, equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the total
17 
amount paid as salaries and wages to [disabled] persons
18 
WITH DISABILITIES, WHILE PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT
19 
EMPLOY SAID PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AS
20 
REGULAR EMPLOYEES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN
21 
ADDITIONAL 
DEDUCTION, 
FROM 
THEIR 
GROSS
22 
INCOME, EQUIVALENT TO FIFTY PERCENT (50% ) OF
23 
THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID AS SALARIES AND WAGES
24 
TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Provided, ^however-,
25 
That- -su€-h—entities present proof as certified—by- the
26 
Department of Labor and-Employment that-disabled persons
27 
are under their employ: Provided, further, That the disabled
28 
employee is accredited with the Department of Labor and
29 
Employment and the Department of Health as to his disability;
30 
skills and qualifieat-ten&r] THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
31 
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE), UNDER ITS LABOR
32 
LAWS, SHALL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE


1 
TO 
PRIVATE 
ENTITIES 
AS 
PRESCRIBED 
IN
2 
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 131-B, SERIES OF 2016, ON
3 
THE REVISED RULES ON LABOR LAWS COMPLIANCE
4 
SYSTEM: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THERE IS NO
5 
QUALIFIED PERSON WITH DISABILITY APPLICANT
6 
AFTER THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE MANDATORY
7 
PUBLICATION 
BY THE 
EMPLOYER OF ITS JOB
8 
VACANCY 
RESERVED 
FOR 
PERSONS 
WITH
9 
DISABILITIES, THE EMPLOYER MAY HIRE A NON-PWD
10 
APPLICANT FOR SAID RESERVED POSITIONS BY
11 
SECURING PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE DOLE.
12 
"(C) X X X."
13 
Sec. 4. 
Section 32 of Chapter 8, Title Two of Republic Act No. 7277, as
14 
amended, is hereby amended by inserting two new subsections to read as follows:
15 
"Sec. 32. 
Persons with disability shall be entitled to the
16 
following;
17 
"x X X
18 
"(L) A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO FIVE
19 
HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) TO AUGMENT THE DAILY
20 
SUBSISTENCE, MEDICAL AND OTHER NEEDS OF
21 
MARGINALIZED 
PERSONS 
WITH 
DISABILITIES:
22 
PROVIDED, THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO
23 
ARE 
RECIPIENTS 
OF 
SIMILAR 
FINANCIAL
24 
ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING
25 
MONETARY ASSISTANCE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND
26 
BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG
27 
PILIPINO PROGRAM, OR 4PS, SHALL NO LONGER BE
28 
GIVEN THIS STIPEND;
29 
"(M ) PROVISION OF FREE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
30 
SERVICES SUCH AS THE EVALUATION OF THE NEEDS
31 
AND THE FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF PERSONS WITH
32 
DISABILITIES IN THE CUSTOMARY ENVIRONMENT


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
OR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS SELECTING, 
DESIGNING, FITTING, CUSTOMIZING, ADAPTING, 
APPLYING, 
MAINTAINING, 
REPAIRING, 
OR 
REPLACING 
ASSISTIVE 
TECHNOLOGY 
DEVICES; 
TRAINING OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PERSOS 
WITH 
DISABILITIES; 
SIGN 
LANGUAGE 
INTERPRETING AND JOB COACHING, AND SUCH 
OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
BENEFICIARY IS A MARGINALIZED PERSON WITH 
DISABILITY AS CERTIFIED BY THE LOCAL HEALTH 
OFFICE 
OF 
THE 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
UNIT 
CONCERNED;
"(N ) PROVISION OF FREE ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND 
TECHNOLOGIES 
INCLUDING 
TECHNICAL 
AIDS, 
PROSTHETIC 
AND 
ORTHOTIC 
DEVICES 
OR 
APPLIANCES PARTICULARLY FOR PERSONAL USE OF 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THAT WILL RESTORE 
THEIR SOCIAL FUNCTIONING AND PARTICIPATION 
IN 
ECONOMIC 
ACTIVITIES 
AND 
COMMUNITY 
AFFAIRS, 
AND 
SUCH 
OTHER 
DEVICES 
AND 
TECHNOLOGIES 
APPROPRIATE 
TO 
OTHER 
DISABILITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE BENEFICIARY 
IS A MARGINALIZED PERSON WITH DISABILITY AS 
CERTIFIED BY THE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICE OF THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED;
"(O) EXEMPTION 
FROM 
PASSPORT PROCESSING 
FEES, AS WELL AS TRAVEL TAXES, TERMINAL FEES, 
OTHER FEES AND CHARGES LEVIED IN AIRPORTS, 
PORTS, OR OTHER TERMINALS BY THE GOVERNMENT, 
ITS AGENCIES OR INSTRUMENTALITIES, OR BY 
GOVERNMENT-OWNED 
AND 
CONTROLLED 
CORPORATIONS.


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
"The abovementioned privileges are available only to persons 
with [disabitity] DISABILITIES who are Filipino citizens 
upon submission of any of the following as proof of [his/her] 
entitlement thereto:
"(I) [Aft] THE PWD identification card issued by the city or 
municipal mayor or the barangay [captain] CHAIRMAN of 
the place where the persons with disability residesft], OR BY
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS; 
OR,
"(II) The passport of the [persons] PWD with APPARENT 
disability [concerned]; or
"[(III) Transportation discount fare Identification Gard-{I B) 
issued by the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled 
Persons (NCW9P)t]
"THE IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED TO PERSONS 
WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES SHALL BE FREE OF 
CHARGE AND SHALL BE VALID DURING THE LIFETIME 
OF THE CARDHOLDER: 
PROVIDED, THAT SUCH 
PERMANENT DISABILITY IS CERTIFIED BY THE 
MUNICIPAL OR CITY HEALTH OFFICE AND VERIFIED 
BY THE LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT 
OFFICE (LSWDO).
"THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
SOCIAL 
WELFARE 
AND 
DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) SHALL ENSURE THAT THE 
LIFETIME VALIDITY OF THE ID CARD OF PERSONS 
WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES IS NOT ABUSED, 
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ID HOLDER DIES."
"X X X."


1 
Sec. 5. Appropriations. -  The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
2 
shall include in the DSWD's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of
3 
which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.
4 
Sec. 6. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. — The DSWD, in coordination
5 
with the NCDA and in consultation with the Department of Interior and Local
6 
Government, the Department of Health, the DOLE, the Department of Finance, and
7 
the Civil Service Commission, shall promulgate, not later than ninety (90) days after
8 
the effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for its proper and
9 
effective implementation.
10 
Sec. 7. 
Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is declared
11 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
12 
provisions hereof.
13 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and
14 
rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
15 
or modified accordingly.
16 
Sec. 9. 
Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
17 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
18
19 
Approved,