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August 05, 2008
Infromation from Philippines
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
New law entitles differently-abled persons with more privileges by Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (24 July) -- A new law amending RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons has been passed reinforcing the rights and privileges of the persons with disability in the country.
RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for the Person with Disability (PWD) amends the earlier RA 7277 and mandated more privileges for the differently-abled, said Tony Fabruada, president of the Provincial Federation of Persons with Disabilities in the province.
Under the new law, differently-abled persons are entitled to a minimum of 20% discount on various services from business establishments such as hotel and lodging, restaurants, recreation centers, theaters, cinemas, carnivals, concerts, etc.
PWDs are also entitled to the same discount on medicine purchases and medicine and dental services.
The same discount also applies for domestic air, sea and land travel and public railways for PWDs, said Fabruada.
Fabruada, speaking during a Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here, explained that the said incentives under the new law are available for PWDs upon submission of any of the following: identification card or ID, passport and discount card for transportation.
Furthermore, RA 9442 now prohibits the ridicule and vilification of the differently-abled. "Ginidili na ang pagyaga-yaga ug pagbinuang sa mga PWDs,"said Fabruada.
Violators of the new Magna Carta for People with Disability face penalties ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 and imprisonment from 60 months to six years at the discretion of the court.
The law also mandates that any person who abuses the priviliges granted by the law shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than 6months or a fine of not less than 5,000 but not more than 50,000 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.
He also noted 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. (PIA/RMN)
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080724.htm&no=42
Posted by jicafriends at August 5, 2008 04:14 PM