Philippines law adds more privileges for people with disabilities

From The Visayan Daily Star:

The law amending the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons gives more privileges for the differently-abled, Tony Fabruada, president of the Provincial Federation of Persons with Disabilities in Negros Oriental, said July 28.

Republic Act 9442 or the Magna Carta for the Person with Disability which amended RA 7277, reinforces the rights and privileges of PWDs, who are now entitled to a minimum of 20 percent discount on various services such as hotel and lodging, restaurants, recreation centers, theaters, cinemas, carnivals, and concerts, among others.

They are also entitled to the same discount on medicine purchases and medicine and dental services, as well as domestic air, sea and land travel and public railways for PWDs, Fabruada said.

He also said these incentives under the new law are available for PWDs upon submission of their identification cards, passport and transportation discount cards.

The new law also prohibits the ridicule and vilification of the differently-abled. Violators will face penalties ranging from 50,000 ($1,129 US) to 200,000 ($4515 USD) and imprisonment from 6 months to six years at the discretion of the court, Fabruada said.

The law also states that any person who abuses the privileges granted by the law shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than 5,000 ($113 USD) but not more than 50,000 ($1129 USD) or both at the discretion of the court.

If the violator is a corporation, organization or any similar entity their officials shall be liable. If the violator is a foreigner, he shall be deported immediately after serving his sentence without further deportation proceedings.

Fabruada said that the term used in the new law referring to the differently-abled is now “person with disability” instead of “disabled person” which was used in the old law.

The Magna Carta for the PWD aims to fully integrate differently-abled persons into the mainstream of Philippine society, he said.