THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia I l l  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 13 Article Xlll of the Constitution provides: 
“The State shall establish a special agency for disabled persons for 
their rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance, and their 
integration into the mainstream of society.” 
This bill seeks the creation of the Philippine Disabled Persons Authority 
which will be mandated with the formulation and implementation of policies, plans 
and programs responsive to the special needs of disabled persons. 
Disabled persons are part of our human resources which is the country’s 
most important endowments. 
If they have special needs, they also have 
special talents and special contributions, which have a place in the country’s 
nation a I develop men t . 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
SERGlO OSMENA 111 
Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
RESTRUCTURING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF 
DISABLED PERSONS (NCWDP) INTO THE NATIONAL DISABLED PERSONS’ 
AUTHORITY (NDPA) AND STRENGTHENING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS 
AND RESPONSJBJLJTIES, APPROPRIATJNG FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes its responsibility 
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to provide persons with disabilities the fullest measures of protection and 
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assistance in developing their abilities in all fields of human endeavor and 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as “The National Disabled 
Persons Authority (NDA) Act of 2004.” 
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promoting their integration into the mainstream of society. 
recognizes its primary duty of preventing causes of disabilities. 
The state also 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act: 
1) Authority - shall refers to the National Disabled Persons Authority 
(NDPA) which will replace the existing National Council for the Welfare of 
Disabled Persons (NCWDP); 
2) Municipal Disability Office - shall mean a structure in the municipal 
government to carry out its programs and services for persons with disabilities. 
The structure shall be linked with the Authority for programs and projects 
purposes; 
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3) Person with Disability - shall mean any person suffering from any 
restriction of abilities as a result of physical, mental, sensory, or neurological 
impairment; 
4) Regional Clusters - shall refer to the political subdivisions as classified 
by the DSWD, as follows: 
Cluster I 
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Regions I, II, Ill and CAR 
Cluster II 
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Regions IV, V and NCR 
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Regions VI, VI1 and Vlll 
Cluster IV 
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Regions IX, X, XII, ARMM and CARAGA 
5 )  Self-Help Organization - shall mean an accredited or recognized group 
or association of persons whose members are generally persons with disabilities, 
principally devoted to the upliftment of the well-being of the disabled such as the 
delivery of services and other initiatives toward fully integrating persons with 
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disabilities into the mainstream of society. 
SEC. 
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Creation of the National Disabled Persons Authority 
(NDPA). - Pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the National Council for the Welfare of 
Disabled Persons (NCWDP) is hereby restructured into the National Disabled 
Persons Authority (NDPA). It shall be attached to the Office of the President. 
SEC. 5. Objecfives of fhe Authority. - The Authority shall have the 
following objectives: 
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To develop an integrated and comprehensive long-term National Plan 
for the prevention of disabilities and the rehabilitation and full participation of, and 
equalization of opportunities for, persons with disabilities; 
2) To ensure the essential programs and services of government and 
non-government 
organizations are adequate, accessible and effectively 
implemented; 
3) To act as a consultative, regulatory, advisory and coordinating body in 
rationalizirig the functions and activities of agencies involved in issues affecting 
persons with disabilities; 


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5) To undertake continuing researches, monitoring and evaluation on 
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various disability-related issues; 
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6) To facilitate, through government funding institutions, provisions for 
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economic assistance and technical support to development projects of 
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organizations of persons with disabilities and organizations working for the 
4) To raise the level of public awareness on disability-related matters 
through a comprehensive information and advocacy program; 
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sectors; 
7) To promote international cooperation on disability concerns. 
SEC. 6. The Governing Board. - The authority shall have a governing 
board composed of the following: 
a) The Secretaries of the Departments of Social Welfare and 
Development; Health; Labor and Employment; Education, Culture and Sports; 
b) Two (2) representatives from non-government organizations actively 
involved in disability concerns; and 
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c) Four (4) representatives from organizations of persons with disabilities, 
coming from the four representatives of the four cluster 
The Board shall be headed by a Chairman, who shall be a person with 
disability, appointed by the President for a term of three (3) years without 
reappointment. The other non-government and cluster representatives in the 
Board shall likewise be appointed by the President from a list of at least three (3) 
nominees submitted by a DSWD-approved national and regional cluster (as 
identified in Section 3) convention of NGOs and disabled persons organizations 
(POs) respectively. 
In the initial appointment, one (1) of the NGO 
representatives and two (2) of the cluster representatives shall serve for two (2) 
years and the rest for three (3) years. After which, succeeding appointees shall 
serve for three (3) years. 
The Chairman and the representative of the organization of persons with 
disabilities shall be natural born citizens of the Philippines, at least 30 years of 


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age at the time of their appointment(s), shall possess executive and 
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management experience in organizations, institutions, programs and projects 
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relating to persons with disabilities, shall not have been previously convicted of 
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any crime involving moral turpitude. They must be persons with disability 
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Board: 
SEC. 7 .  Funcfions offhe Board. - The following are the functions of the 
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To formulate policies, plans and programs for the full integration and 
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development of people with disabilities; 
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2) To direct and regulate concerned agencies in the implementation of 
policies affecting persons with disability; 
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3) To establish appropriate institutional mechanisms in government 
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agencies to ensure the implementation, monitoring and updating of plans and 
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programs for persons with disability; 
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4) To enter into contracts or agreements, solicit and accept grants, 
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donations, gifts, legacies and bequests; 
5) .To submit an annual report to the President of the Republic of the 
Philippines and to the Congress on the activities of the Authority; 
6) To set standards and regulations for accreditation of organizations of 
persons with disabilities and regulate their activities in accordance with rules and 
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regulations promulgated by the Authority; and 
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7) To organize permanent of ad hoc committees consisting of members 
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of the Board or such other experts as are deemed necessary for the discharge of 
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the functions of the Authority. 
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SEC. 8. Functions offhe Chairman. - The Chairman shall call and 
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preside over the meetings of the Board. He shall ensure that the decisions and 
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policies of the Board are implemented. He shall be the signatory to whatever 
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official dealings and transactions the Authority may enter 
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SEC. 9. Secrefariaf. - The Board shall be assisted by a secretariat 
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which shall serve as the machinery to coordinate functions, organize services 


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and evaluate programs as may be required by the Board. It shall be headed by 
an Executive Director, to be 'assisted by a Deputy Executive Director, both' of' 
whom shall be appointed by the President. 
I )  The following shall be the offices/divisions of the Secretariat: 
a) Office of the Executive Director 
b) Finance and Administrative Division 
c) Information, Education and Communication Division 
d) International Cooperation Division 
e) Research and Planning Division 
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g) Monitoring and Evaluation Division 
SEC. I O .  Meetings. - The Board shall meet once a month, or as often 
as may be determined by the Chairman. 
SEC. 11. Authority to Receive Donations, Grants, Financial Aids, 
Gifts, Bequests and Legacies. - The Authority shall be authorized to receive 
grants, donations, contributions and gifts which shall be administered or 
disbursed for the purpose for which they were given or in the absence of such, as 
the Board may determine. All donations, grants, financial aids, bequests and 
legacies which may be made to, or in the name of, the Authority shall be allowed 
as a deductible contribution from the income of the donor for income tax 
purposes and shall be exempt from donor's taxes. 
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SEC. 12. Financial Gifts. - The Chairman and the representatives of 
the four (4) regional clusters shall be entitled to compensation to be determined 
by the Board; the other members of the Board shall be entitled to honorarium for 
meetings actually attended, subject to existing DBM rules and regulations. 
SEC. 13. Creation of City/Municipa/ Disability Office (C/MDO). - All 
citylmunicipality government units shall establish an office for persons with 
disabilities under the Office of the Mayor. 
It shall be headed by the 
City/Municipal Councilor in charge of the Committee on Social Services. The 


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said office shall be staffed by people with disabilities to be appointed by the 
z mayor, upon the recommendation of a duly accredited and recognized self-help 
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organization of persons with disabilities in the area. The municipal government 
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The C/MDO shall serve as the implementing arm of the municipal 
shall allocate the necessary funds for the operations of this office. 
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government on matters concerning persons with disabilities. It shall be assisted 
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SEC. 14. Appropriafion. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, all funds of 
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the former National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) shall 
by the authority to effectively carry out its programs and projects. 
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be transferred to the newly created National Disabled Persons Authority (NDPA). 
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Thereafter, any sum as may be necessary to augment its capital outlay shall be 
included in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 
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Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules and 
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regulations, other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this law 
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SEC. 16. Effecfivify. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Immediately thereafter, the 
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NCWDP will convene an inter-agency committee work on the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations within sixty (60) working days to restructure the NCWDP, 
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strengthen 
its 
powers, 
functions 
and 
responsibilities. 
Approved, 
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