TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
, First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
lOfi i’ f 11
25 AUG -6 P2 :19
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY" AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7277 or the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons" was enacted 
in March 1992. The law grants rights and privileges to persons with disabilities and 
gives full support to the improvement of their total well-being and their integration 
into mainstream society. It also declared as State policy the adoption of policies 
ensuring the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of PWDs.
R.A. 7277 was later refined and strengthened by a series of legislative acts. As 
one of the authors of the bills which eventually became laws amending the subject 
Magna Carta, - i.e. Republic Act No. 9442 during the 13th Congress and Republic Act 
No. 10070 during the 14th Congress - this representation believes in the necessity to 
continuously enhance its provisions and introduce relevant reforms thereto to make it 
more responsive and proactive in addressing the needs and concerns of the PWDs, 
considered as one of the marginalized and most vulnerable sectors of our society.


According to the National Council on Disability Affairs, there are 2,077,899 total 
registered persons with disabilities (PWDs) as of March 7, 2025.1 Citing data from the 
Department of Health (DOH), NCDA shares that 809,352 Filipinos have physical 
disability, 326,996 have speech impairment, 306,437 have psychosocial disability, and 
246,592 have visual disability.2
Under this measure, which was reported out by the Senate Committee on Social 
Justice, Welfare and Rural Development during the 19th Congress, the undersigned 
proposes to further expand the entitlements given to PWDs to include a monthly Php 
500 stipend to augment their daily subsistence needs, and provide free assistive 
technology devices (such as wheelchair, hearing aids) and services (job coaching, 
trainings). They shall also be exempted from the payment of passport processing fees, 
travel taxes, and other fees and charges levied in airports, ports and terminals 
operated by the government. Moreover, persons with permanent disability shall be 
issued free of charge identification cards with lifetime validity.
In view of fostering the sector's capability to attain meaningful, productive and 
satisfying life, the immediate passage of this measure is fervently sought.
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 https://ncda.eov.ph/
2 Ibid.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
I i*'T ;'i I ..
)
SENATE 
s. No. 1045
25 AUG-6 P2:19
RtCEIVFiy
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY" AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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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
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hereby amended by inserting new subsections to read as follows:
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"Section 4. Definition of Terms. - [FoFpurposes-of] AS
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USED IN this Act[, these terms arc defined-as-follows]:
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"x X X
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"(Q) ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES
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REFER TO DEVICES THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF
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WHICH IS TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE AN
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INDIVIDUAL'S FUNCTIONING AND INDEPENDENCE
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TO FACILITATE PARTICIPATION AND TO ENHANCE
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OVERALL WELL-BEING BY HELPING TO PREVENT
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IMPAIRMENTS AND SECONDARY HEALTH
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CONDITIONS. IT INCLUDES WHEELCHAIRS AND
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WALKERS, PROSTHESES, HEARING AIDS, AIDS FOR
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THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND SPECIALIZED


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COMPUTER SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, AND
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PERIPHERALS THAT INCREASE MOBILITY, HEARING,
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VISION, OR COMMUNICATION CAPACITIES, AMONG
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OTHERS; AND
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"(R) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICE REFERS
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TO ANY SERVICE THAT DIRECTLY ASSISTS A PERSON
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WITH DISABILITY IN THE SELECTION, ACQUISITION,
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OR USE OF AN ASSISTIVE DEVICE AND
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TECHNOLOGY."
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Sec. 2. Section 8 (a) and (b) of Chapter 1, Title Two of Republic Act No. 7277,
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as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
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"Sec. 8. Incentives for Employers. - (a) To encourage
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the active participation of the private sector in promoting the
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[welfare] RIGHTS of persons WITH DISABILITIES and to
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ensure gainful employment for qualified persons WITH
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DISABILITIES, adequate incentives shall be provided to
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private entities which employ persons WITH
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DISABILITIES.
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"(b) Private entities that employ persons WITH
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DISABILITIES who meet the required skills of qualifications,
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either as regular employee, apprentice or learner, shall be
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entitled to an additional deduction, from their gross income,
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equivalent to twenty-give percent (25%) of the total amount
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paid as salaries and wages to [disabled] persons WITH
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DISABILITIES, Provided, [however. That such - entities
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present-proof as certified by the Department of Labof-and
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Employment that-disabled persons are under their employ:
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Provided, further. That the disabled employee is accredited
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with the Department of Labor and Employment and the
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Department of Health—as --to—his ■ disabHity, skills and
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qualifications.] THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
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EMPLOYMENT (DOLE), UNDER ITS LABOR LAWS,


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SHALL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE TO
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PRIVATE ENTITIES AS PRESCRIBED IN DEPARTMENT
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ORDER NO. 131-B, SERIES OF 2016, OR THE REVISED
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RULES ON LABOR LAWS COMPLIANCE SYSTEM:
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PROVIDED, FURTHER, 
THAT IF THERE IS NO
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QUALIFIED PERSON WITH DISABILITY APPLICANT
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AFTER THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE MANDATORY
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PUBLICATION BY THE EMPLOYER OF ITS JOB
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VACANCY 
RESERVED 
FOR 
PERSONS 
WITH
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DISABILITIES, THE EMPLOYER MAY HIRE A NON-
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PERSON WITH DISABILITY APPLICANT FOR SAID
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RESERVED 
POSITIONS 
BY SECURING 
PRIOR
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APPROVAL FROM THE DOLE.
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"(C) XXX."
15 
Sec, 3. Section 32 of Chapter 8, Title Two of Republic Act No. 7277, as
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amended, is hereby amended by inserting four (4) new subsections to read as follows:
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"Sec. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to the
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following:
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"(a)
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"X X X
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"(k) Provision 
of express lanes for persons 
with
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disability in all commercial and government establishments; in
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the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them.
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"(L) A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO FIVE
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HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) TO AUGMENT THE DAILY
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SUBSISTENCE, MEDICAL AND OTHER NEEDS OF
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MARGINALIZED AND INDIGENT PERSONS WITH
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SEVERE DISABILITIES: PROVIDED, THAT PERSONS
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WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE RECIPIENT OF
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SIMILAR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE
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GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING MONETARY ASSISTANCE
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FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND BENEFICIARIES UNDER


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THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM OR 
4PS, SHALL NO LONGER BE GIVEN THIS STIPEND;
"(M) PROVISION OF FREE ASSISTIVE 
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES SUCH AS THE EVALUATION 
OF THE NEEDS AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CUSTOMARY 
ENVIRONMENT 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 PERSONS 
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; AND


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"(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.
"The abovementioned privileges are available only to 
persons with disability who are Filipino citizens upon 
submission of any of the following as proof of entitlement 
thereto:
"(I) [Aft] THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
identification card issued by the city of municipal mayor or the 
barangay [captain] CHAIRPERSON of the place where the 
person with disability resides, OR BY THE NATIONAL 
COUNCIL ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS (NCDA); OR
"(II) The passport of the persons with PERMANENT 
disability [concerned;].
"[(HI) Transportation discount fare Identification Card 
(ID) issued by the National Council for the Welfare of-Bisabled
Persons (NCWDP.)]
"PROVIDED, THAT 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, FURTHER, THAT SUCH 
PERMANENT DISABILITY IS CERTIFIED BY THE 
MUNICIPAL OR CITY HEALTH OFFICE AND VERIFIED 
BY THE LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT 
OFFICER (LSWDO).
"THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND 
DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) SHALL ENSURE THAT THE


1 
LIFETIME VALIDITY OF THE ID CARD OF PERSONS
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WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES IS NOT ABUSED,
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ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ID HOLDER DIES."
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Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), in coordination
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with the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and
7 
Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Civil
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Service Commission (CSC), the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Governance
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Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG), and other
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relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
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for its proper and effective implementation.
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Sec. 5. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Sociai Welfare and Development shall
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include in the DSWD's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
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shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional,
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the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in fuli force and effect.
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, decree or issuance, executive order, ruies
18 
and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
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repeaied, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
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completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of generai
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circulation.
Approved,