Speaking at the AFP-PNP Press Corps briefing on Wednesday (August 10) at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Leonar said that the establishment of PDAO is legally mandated under Republic Act (RA) 7277 as amended by RA number 10070.
Such law says local government units shall organize and establish PDAO where the local chief executive shall appoint a PWD affairs officer who shall manage and oversee the operations of the office, pursuant to its mandate.
Leonar said he is thankful that the chairperson of the Committee on Government Reorganization in the 20th City Council, Councilor Alberto Ungab and Councilor Pilar Braga have proposed the PDAO ordinance.
In fact, he said there were committee hearings that had been conducted already for this purpose.
“Thankful sa proposed ordinance for the establishment of persons with disability affairs office. Ubay ubay na pod ang pag-antos sa mga PWDs sa Davao apil na kadtong naay mga visual disability, communication disability, psycho social, mental, learning , and intellectual disabilities,” Leonar said.
The PWD sector is currently lobbying with Mayor Sebastian Duterte to support the establishment of PDAO.
Based on the proposed ordinance, the creation of PDAO will give life to the spirit and intent of Philippine Laws to assist, promote and protect the general welfare of persons with disability, in any and all forms, and will recognize their role and support their economic, political, and social contributions for the progress and development of the city.
“The PDAO office will streamline the help and other benefits to all PWDs in Davao City, dili lang kadtong ortho, dili lang kadtong naka-wheelchair but tanan including kadtong naay cases of autism, kinahanglan gyud suportahan ang mga parents, kadtong dunay down syndrome. Atung gina-encourage nga muparehistro aron maisyuhan ug ID,” Leonar said.
PWDs are those individuals with orthopedic disability such as polio, amputees, and hunchback; those who are visual disability (blind); communication disability (deaf-mute, harelip); and learning disability (down syndrome, ADHD).
Also considered PWD are those with psycho social disability(insane, bipolar, illness like cancer,HIV, Kidney) and intellectual disability such as autism, seizures, and cerebral palsy.
In 2014, First District Representative Paolo Duterte, then acting City Mayor issued Executive Order No. 14 and established the interim PDAO in preparation for the passing of a City Ordinance for that purpose.
Lawyer Redendo Martinez, also from Alyansang PDAO, also believes in the importance of creating an office for the PWD sector because it will cater to their needs particularly on the issue of accessibility.
“The law clearly provides a state policy that PWD should be integrated into mainstream society,” Martinez said.
“For instance kining mga visually impaired tungod sa kakulangon sa accessibility kutob ra gyud sila sa masahista because kulang ang accessibility sa education,” he said.
The PWD sector is hoping that the city PDAO will be made a department or division under the City Mayor’s Office and will be composed of appointed employees who are themselves PWD’s from the different sectors.
In Davao City, nearly 20,000 PWDs are already registered, with issued identification cards.
The office is needing P30 million for its operation for the year 2023.
Atty. Rani Leonar