About 1.5% of our population is reported as persons with disabilities. Although 1.5% appears to be a small number, our fast growing population of over 100 million means that over 1.5 million Filipinos are living with disabilities or conditions that require special assistance or accommodation.

Our fellow citizens with disabilities are currently represented by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), which was created in 1981 and tasked with overseeing the implementation of policies related to Persons with Disability (PWD). NCDA operates under the Office of the President, following an Executive Order by the President in 2008.

This bill seeks to reorganize the National Council on Disability Affairs to a National Commission on Disability Affairs. The leap from council to commission will institutionalize the mandate of the government agency to address the concerns and needs of persons with disabilities. With Commissioners from DOH, DSWD, DepEd, CHED and TESDA, as well as Regional Directors for each region in the country, a National Commission on Disability Affairs will have a larger capacity and more support to collect data, identify needs and formulate policies relating to PWDs. Through this Commission, the policies formulated and recommended would be more holistic through consultations with all stakeholders and would better serve the needs of our PWDs throughout different stages of integration into society.

PWDs benefit greatly from having a stable institution that looks after their well-being and holistic integration in society at all stages of life. Our nation can certainly benefit from harnessing the talents that PWDs have to offer, if only they are properly supported and given the assistance they need to be productive citizens.

In view of the foregoing the passing of this bill is earnestly sought.