Ircfras lawlor
PWlls neats o[aU
EVEN with only seven legislative days left before the
17th Congresc adioums sine die, outgoing lloilo City
Rep. Jerry Treias remains optinistic that his bill
which se€ks to grant additional privileges lor per-
sons with disabilities (PWD8) will still be passed
into law.
Trenas, who scored a landslide win as mayot oflloilo
City, said that fhere is still time for Congress to applove
House Bill9106 whichhe aulhored after itwas appioved
Tuesday on second reading.
" We still have time to dpp rove this measure and pass
it into law. We should make the most of the remaining
session days so we canmake Ufe easiei andbetterfor our
PWDs," Treftas said.
Tt wasTrenas who passionatelv defended andjusti-
fied the irnmediateapirovaj of th;bi U despit".trutlorg-
es due to shortened session days and quorum problems
as a result of ihe campaig4 season.
Trenas said that House Bill c106 will amend provi-
sions of Republic Act 7277 ot the Magna Car.ta for
Persons with Disabilities, to indude additional pdvileg-
es for PWDS such as the mandatory employment in
govemment oftices, govemmen t corpord tion5 dnd even
in the private sector.
-_Under the proposed law, all government agencies,
offices or govemmen t corporations are rnand aGd to fil
up at least two percent of all positions for qualified
PWDS.
Private corporations with more tha'r 1,000 employ-
ees are likewise requied to allot at least two percent bf
all positions for PWDS and one percent for lhose with
less thar 1.000 employees.
ln retm, private corporations and entities that em-
ploy PWDS who meet the requted skills or qualifica-
tions as apprentices or learners "shall be entided to an
additional deduction, from their gross income, equiva-
lent to 25 percent of the total ambunt paid as salaries
and wages to PWDS
On the other hand, "private entities that employ
Pl4IDs as regular employees shall be entided to an
additional deduction from their gross income, equiva-
lent to 50% of the total amount paid as salariei and
wages for the PWDS.
The law also mandates the provision of free assistive
technology services including designing, customizing,
rnain tairing repairing or replacing assistive technology
devices to enhance the functional capacity of PWDS.
"Once approved, the govemment will also proyide
ftee wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other aids for oul
PWDswhmever fimds will allow. Malaking tulongdin
ito pana sa ating mga PWDS," Trefias said.
Also provided on the proposed taw as additional
privileges for PWDs are as follows:
. Monthlystipend amountingtoP500formargin"
alized PWDs to augmen t their daily subsistence, med-
ical and other needs.
. Exemptionfrompassportprocessingfees,aswell
as travel taxes, terminal fees, other fees and charges
levied on airports, ports, or other terminals by ihe
Bovernment, any of i t5 d gmcies or ins llum m a I ities, ot
I
by Bovernment-owned or con Lrolled corpord ti ons.
. Lifetime valid.ity of PWD ldentification cards.
The Deparbnent of SociaJ WeUare and Developmen t
(DSWD) is mandated to monitor compliance on the
provisions of the proposed law and ensune that the
privileges provided are not abused by its beneficiaries.
Pog.)