[Sponsorship Speech for my proposed resolution requesting the Office of the Governor, Province of Northern Samar, to establish Office of Persons with Disability Affairs (OPDA) and appropriating funds thereof, 2 September 2011]
Mr. Chairman, my distinguished colleagues:
People with disabilities are often negatively stereotyped and marginalized by the rest of society. They are isolated and often made to feel that their participation in activities, programs or public life is not welcome.
Persons with disabilities are human beings, it is self-evident that disability is a welfare issue of persons with disabilities as well as the compliance with the accessibility and participation in community affairs, and it is in the recognition of that intrinsic humanity that we can reach outcomes that would result in the full implementation and protection of their well-being.
Persons with disabilities are entitled to exercise their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights on an equal basis with others. Disability summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in population in our province. They may not be aware of the options available to them and, if they suffer from psychiatric disabilities, they may not understand or may not be able to make a decision even when their rights are explained to them. They may also be used in criminal activities without being aware of it. In some cases, they may be dependent on family members or be housed in an institution and they may not know whom they should get in touch with or how and when their rights are violated.
Worthy to note, Mr. Chairman, is Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION, SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE OF DISABLED PERSONS AND THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ” Chapter IV, Section 21, Paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) of said act, the State shall ensure that marginalized persons are provided with the necessary auxiliary services that will restore their social functioning and participation in community affairs. The promotion of the general welfare of every inhabitant including the marginalized disabled persons as embodied in Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. Also, Article II, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, the State values the dignity of every human persons and guarantees full respect for human rights.
In must also pointed out that it is necessary to prioritize the concerns of people with disabilities to facilitate there needs and to access participation in community affairs.
Mr. Chairman, my honorable colleagues of this eminent body, in view of the foregoing, to put safeguard and full support to the well-being of every persons with disabilities, I urge this Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the people to support the immediate passage of (this) resolution, granting the Office of the Governor, Province of Northern Samar, to establish Office of Persons with Disability Affairs (OPDA) and Appropriating Funds Thereof. The passage of the resolution under consideration is a big step towards achieving this goal of eliminating or minimizing the ill effect of poverty for the PWDs.
The development of Persons with Disabilities contributes to the promotion of gender quality. And the establishment of the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs and appropriating funds thereof should be one of the priority components in poverty reduction programs of our province.
Thank you.