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Republic of the Philippines

House of Represer
epr

Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4948

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Indigent PWDs in the Philippines have to surmount difficulties greater than any
of us could imagine. The impact of inflation and rising oil prices that impact Filipinos
are much greater felt by vulnerable sectors of our society most especially indigent
PWDs. Added to their expenses relative to their daily survival, they also need to spend
on their medical needs. Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled
Persons outlined policies to ensure the rehabilitation, self-development, and self-
reliance of disabled persons. Part of this policy is to ensure that the government reach
out to a greater number of PWDs with expanded services and benefits. Thus, this bill
proposes a monthly pension be given to indigent PWDs to promote their welfare.

The Philippine government does its best to support and protect the
marginalized, but added to the problems encountered in delivering much-needed
services and assistance is the need to obtain necessary data on indigent PWDs. There
are no recent numbers or statistics regarding indigent PWDs, the most recent being in
the situation of indigent PWDs will ele the government plan and

2 ‘stringent effort to collect information and data to afford the government the
opportunity to create responsive policies and sound implementation of programs.

In view of this, the passage of this bill is highly sought.

NESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.
Assistant Majority Floor Leader
Congressman
First Congressional District of Manila


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4548

HOUSE BILL No.

AN ACT
PROVIDING MONTHLY PENSION TO INDIGENT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(PWDs) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Monthly Pension
for indigent Persons with Disability (PWDs) Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
protect and promote the right to health of the people, and to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to ieaith deveiopment which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at
affordable cost. Further, it is also the policy of the State that priority be given to the
needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. With this,
policies must be enacted to ensure that indigent persons with disabilities (PWDs) are
given support and protection in order to uplift their standard of living.

SECTION 3. Coverage. — All indigent PWDs, as verified and certified by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on
Disability Affairs (NCDA) shall be covered by the provisions of this Act

The eligible indigent PWDs shall be entitled to a monthly pension from the
DSWD amounting to Five Thousand Pesos (PhP/5,000.00) to augment his/her daily
subsistence as well as other needs, subject to existing government auditing rules and
regulations.

SECTION 4. Database of PWDs. — A database of all indigent PWDs shall be
created by the NCDA and the DSWD, and other relevant government agencies that
can assist in providing relevant information. Renewed efforts must be made to collect
comprehensive, accurate, and updated information that will assist in the planning and
implementation of services for indigent PWDs. The creation and management of this


database shall adhere strictly to standards set forth in Republic Act No. 10173,
otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012.”

SECTION 5. PWD Identification Cards. - The issuance of PWD identification
cards (IDs) pursuant to Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta
for Disabled Persons,” as amended, along with other relevant administrative
issuances and local ordinances, shall incorporate the information necessary for the
granting of the monthly social pension to eligible indigent PWDs. The issuance of an
authentic PWD ID is a pre-requisite to qualify as a beneficiary under this Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within 60 (sixty) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the NCDA, Department
of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and other relevant
government agencies and non-government organizations, shall issue the necessary
ules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations.

SECTION 8. Separability. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not othenwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
deemed repealed or modified accordinaly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
full publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.