PWD

Sen. Bam rallies support for Filipino deaf community, FSL Act

Deaf Filipinos will soon be empowered with their own national language after the Senate passed on third and final reading the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1455 on third and final reading via 20 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

“We hope to build a society where every Filipino is valued and respected. Let’s support and empower the Filipino deaf community,” said Sen. Bam, who explained that the FSL Act seeks to recognize Filipino Sign Language or FSL as the national sign language and endeavors to bring it to the mainstream.

In his sponsorship speech as vice chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said the FSL will give the deaf community better access to government services, information, education, and justice.

If enacted into law, the FSL will become the official mode of communication of the deaf for government services, calling for trained interpreters in various government offices. 

The measure also aims to make FSL as means of interpretation in broadcast media, delivering news and information consistently to the deaf community.

In his five years in the Senate, Sen. Bam has continuously worked hard for the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs). In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam pushing the passage of Republic Act 10754, which exempts PWDs from paying value added tax (VAT), as co-author.

Sen. Bam also worked for the passage of Republic Act 10905 or the Closed Caption Law as co-author. It requires television networks to use the closed captioning system for news and current affairs programs and entertainment shows for the benefit of viewers with hearing impairment.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 967 requiring Filipino Sign Language insets for local news programs. He also filed Senate Bill No. 1249 seeking to mandate government offices and private companies to allocate a percentage of their workforce for PWDs.

Sen. Bam pushes for more opportunities for PWDs

As the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday (Dec. 3), Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated the call for the passage of his two measures that support Filipino PWDs and provide them with the needed assistance.

“We need to ensure that our PWDs are given proper assistance and opportunities to make a living,” said Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill No. 356 and 1249 in the 17th Congress.

 Under Senate Bill No. 1249, government agencies and private offices must allot two and one percent of their workforce, respectively, to PWDs.

“This bill seeks to create more job opportunities for PWDs in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits and employment terms for PWDs as any other qualified employee,” Sen. Bam said.

 Senate Bill No. 356 aims to provide mandatory Philhealth coverage for PWDs, to ensure that their health is protected.

 “Social services should be provided to those with the least in society. Health services should be provided to those who need it the most,” Sen. Bam said, referring to Senate Bill No. 356.

 The two measures aim to amend Republic Act 7277 or the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability” to accommodate the latest benefits and privileges for PWDs.

 In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam worked for the welfare of PWDs as co-author of Republic Act 10754 in the Senate. The law exempts PWDs from paying the value added tax (VAT) and gives tax incentives to persons with PWD dependents, up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

BIDA KA!: Bida ang PWDs

Mga bida, isa sa mga isinulong­ natin noong 16th Congress ay ang kapakanan ng Persons with ­Disabi­lities­ (PWDs).

Tumayo tayo bilang co-author ng Republic Act 10754 o ang batas­ na nag-aalis ng VAT sa mga may ­kapansanan.

Maliban sa pag-alis ng VAT, binibigyan din ng batas ng insentibo sa buwis ang sinumang may kamag-anak na PWDs, hanggang sa tinatawag na fourth civil degree.

***

Ngayong 17th Congress, naitalaga man tayo bilang chairman ng Committee on Education at Science and Technology, patuloy pa rin ang ating hangaring bantayan ang kapakanan ng mga kapatid nating PWDs.

Sa huling ulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority, tinatayang nasa 1.5 milyon ang PWDs sa buong bansa.

Kamakailan, naghain tayo ng Senate Bill No. 1249 na ­layong amyendahan ang Republic Act 7277 o ang Magna ­Carta for Disabled Persons upang mabigyan ng dagdag na ­trabaho ang PWDs.

Kapag naisabatas ang panukalang ito, aatasan ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan na maglaan ng dalawang porsiyento ng ­kabuuan nilang empleyado para sa PWDs.

Aatasan naman ang mga pribadong kumpanya na kunin ­mula sa PWDs ang isang porsiyento ng kanilang mga empleyado.

Ang panukalang ito ay magbibigay sa ating PWDs ng ­kabuhayan, benepisyo at trabaho tulad ng iba pang kuwalipikadong empleyado at mas malaking papel sa lipunan.

 

Bukod pa rito, lalawak pa ang kaalaman ng publiko ukol sa karapatan ng PWDs.

***

Isinumite rin natin ang Senate Bill No. 356 na nagbibigay ng Philhealth coverage sa ating PWDs.

Binuo natin ang panukala upang mabigyan ng kaukulang serbisyong pangkalusugan ang lahat ng mga nangangailangan sa lipunan, lalo na ang PWDs.

Sa pagbibigay ng Philhealth coverage sa PWDs, naniniwala­ tayo na malapit nang matupad ang hangarin nating matugunan ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng mahihirap na Pilipino.

Sa panukala, aamyendahan ang Republic Act 7277 o ang “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability” upang maidagdag ang PWDs sa mga sakop ng Philhealth coverage.

***

May mga panukala rin tayo para sa mga kababayan nating­ may problema sa pandinig  ang Senate Bill No. 966 at ­Senate Bill No. 967.

Sa Senate Bill No. 966 o Filipino Sign Language Act, isinusulong nating maideklara ang Filipino Sign Language (FSL) ­bilang pambansang sign language ng mga kababayan nating may diperensiya sa pandinig.

Kapag naisabatas, ang FSL ay magsisilbing opisyal na ­wikang gagamitin ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng transaksyon sa mga kababayan nating may diperensiya sa pandinig. Itatakda rin ng panukala na gamitin ang FSL sa mga paaralan, trabaho at sa broadcast media.

Ang FSL din ang gagamiting opisyal na wika para sa mga kapatid nating may suliranin sa pandinig sa lahat ng public hearing at iba pang transaksyon sa mga hukuman, quasi-judicial agencies at iba pang uri ng hukuman.

Nagbago man tayo ng komite, tuloy pa rin ang ating pagtatrabaho para maisulong ang kapakanan at karapatan ng mga kapatid nating PWDs.

Senate Bill No. 1249: Amending R.A. No. 7277 or Magna Carta for Disabled Persons

This bill seeks to guarantee the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits, and employment term s for PWDs as any other qualified employees. Through this legislation, government offices will be mandated to ensure that 2% o f their employees comprise of PWDs whereas private organizations will be required to employ a workforce, at least 1% of which is made up o f PWDs. 

 As we forge onward in building the nation better and stronger, we must take the necessary steps to ensure that we are building an inclusive society where no sector is left behind from the gains of development. 

 This bill will allow persons with disabilities more meaningful and productive participation in society. Furthermore, an increased PWD presence in all workforces aims to heighten public awareness and consideration for the rights o f PWDs.

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Bam eyes more jobs for PWDs in govt agencies, private firms

More jobs await persons with disabilities (PWDs) in government offices and private entities if the bill submitted by Sen. Bam Aquino will be enacted into law.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1249 seeks to amend Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons to mandate government agencies to ensure that two percent of their employees comprise of PWDs.

 Private organizations, for their part, will be required to employ 1 percent of their workforce from PWDs.

“This bill seeks to guarantee the inclusion of PWDs in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits and employment terms for PWDs as any other qualified employee,” Sen. Bam said.

“Let’s give our PWDs more opportunities to generate livelihood,” he added.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam believes the measure will give PWDs a more meaningful and productive role in society.

“Furthermore, an increased PWD presence in the workforce aims to heighten public awareness and consideration for their rights,” Sen. Bam said.

In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam tirelessly worked for the welfare of PWDs, with the passage of Republic Act 10754 that exempts them from paying the value added tax (VAT).

The law also gives tax incentives to persons with PWD dependents, up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

Bam eyes mandatory Philhealth coverage for PWDs

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) will be granted mandatory Philhealth coverage once the measure filed by Sen. Bam Aquino is enacted into law.
 
“This is a straightforward measure to support our disadvantaged countrymen — our persons with disabilities,” Sen. Bam said, referring to Senate Bill No.  356 or the Mandatory PhilHealth for PWDs Act.
 
“First and foremost, social services should be provided to those with the least in society. Health services should be provided to those who need it the most,” he added.
 
By providing mandatory Philhealth coverage to PWDs, Sen. Bam said the Philippines will move closer to fulfilling all the needs of underprivileged Filipinos.
 
The measure will amend Republic Act 7277 or the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability”, to add PWDs under the mandatory Philhealth coverage.
 
In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam tirelessly worked for the welfare of PWDs, with the passage of Republic Act 10754 that exempts PWDs from paying the value added tax (VAT).
 
The law also gives tax incentives to persons with PWD dependents tax incentives, up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
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