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The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) disclosed on Wednesday that nearly half of the country’s 1,700 local government units (LGUs) have no office or focal person dedicated to serving the needs of people with disabilities (PWDs).

“There are currently 738 Persons with Disabilities Affairs Offices (PDAO) being monitored across the country. This represents 43% of the total number of local government units. There are 436 PDAO Offices and 302 focus persons among them “According to the NCDA.

Republic Act 10070 requires the establishment of PDAOs in provinces, towns, and municipalities to ensure that Filipino PWDs have access to government programs and services.

Local chief executives of fourth, fifth, and sixth class municipalities may nominate a focal person instead of forming a PDAO due to budget constraints.

“PDAOs bring the government closer to the people with disabilities. They are the ones that represent us in meetings, which is only natural since we should be included in the process as well “The national president of the League of PWD Affairs Officers of the Philippines (LPDAOP), Miriam Acosta-Llanos, told the Philippine News Agency.

“When a PWD is unable to access government programs and services, the PDAO is the one who develops ways to reach out to them,” she noted.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2010 Census of Population and Housing, there are at least 1.44 million PWDs in the Philippines.

This outdated statistic, together with the lack of a comprehensive database, underlines the urgent need for PDAOs, according to Acosta-Llanos, who believes the number has already risen to 5 million.

“There is still a long way to go. Updating the database and implementing (Republic Act 10070) are the challenges “she stated

“Walang makikipaglaban sa karapatan namin at walang mag-a-advocate ng kailangan namin, malaki ang epekto kung walang PDAO sa isang lugar (The lack of a PDAO has a major impact because they’re expected to advance our interests and fight for our rights). Only a person with disabilities understands what we require and how we feel “she continued.

With the help and guidance of the NCDA, the LPDAOP was founded in the fourth quarter of 2020.

LPDAOP is now working with the NCDA to give technical assistance to the existing local PDAOs. The capacity enhancement of PDAOs through logistical support and training facilitation is one of NCDA’s main thrusts.

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