ILOILO City – Even with only seven legislative days left before the 17th Congress adjourns sine die, outgoing Iloilo City congressman Jerry Treñas remains optimistic that his bill which seeks to grant additional privileges for persons with disabilities (PWDs) will still be passed into law.
Treñas, who scored a landslide win as mayor of Iloilo City, said there is still time for Congress to approve House Bill 9106 which he authored after it was approved on May 21, 2019, on second reading.
“We still have time to approve this measure and pass it into law. We should make the most of the remaining session days so we can make life easier and better for our PWDs,” said Treñas.
It was Treñas who passionately defended and justified the immediate approval of the bill despite challenges due to shortened session days and quorum problems as a result of the campaign season.
Treñas said House Bill 9106 will amend provisions of Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, to include additional privileges such as mandatory employment in government offices, government corporations and even in the private sector.
The PWD Bill was suggested to the veteran lawmaker by Dr. Kim Karolyn G. Samoro, a constituent from the lone district of Iloilo City.
Under the proposed law, all government agencies, offices or government corporations are mandated to fill up at least two percent of all positions for qualified PWDs.
Private corporations with more than 1,000 employees are likewise required to allot at least two percent of all positions for PWDs and one percent for those with less than 1,000 employees.
In return, private corporations and entities that employ PWDs who meet the required skills or qualifications as apprentices or learners “shall be entitled to an additional deduction, from their gross income, equivalent to 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries and wages to PWDs.”
On the other hand, “private entities that employ PWDs as regular employees shall be entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to 50 percent of the total amount paid as salaries and wages for the PWDs.
The law also mandates the provision of free assistive technology services including designing, customizing, maintaining, repairing or replacing assistive technology devices to enhance the functional capacity of PWDs.
“Once approved, the government will be providing free wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other aids for our PWDs whenever funds will allow. Malaking tulong din ito para sa ating mga PWDs,” Treñas said.
Also provided in the proposed law as additional privileges for PWDs are the following:
* monthly stipend amounting to P500 for marginalized PWDs to augment their daily subsistence, medical and other needs
* exemption from passport processing fees, as well as travel taxes, terminal fees, other fees and charges levied on airports, ports, or other terminals by the government, any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or by government-owned or controlled corporations
*lifetime validity of PWD identification cards
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is mandated to monitor compliance on the provisions of the proposed law and ensure that the privileges provided are not abused by its beneficiaries./PN
