Public warned anew: Ridicule of PWDs now a crime
A. Chris Fernandez illustration
An extensive public awareness campaign is now underway geared towards educating the community on the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. Specific of the advocacy is to raise awareness of the people on the additional rights and privileges of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
In Iloilo, the "action man" on said campaign is Jose Gerry Hallares, Specialist II of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Continuous check is now being made in various government agencies to ensure that the mandated policies and regulations for the PWDs are duly observed.
Amendments were recently introduced as contained in Republic Act 9442. Hallares pointed out how the law now criminalizes anybody who put PWDs in public ridicule.
Section 40 provides that no individual, group or community shall "execute any of these acts or ridicule" any time and any place lest it will cause intimidation or loss in self-esteem.
"It is now a crime, we can be penalized if we treat them that way," Hallares stressed in a The News Today (TNT) interview.
Violators stand to be fined from P50,000 to P200,000 while foreigners shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings.
Other privileges and incentives are further explained in the local advocacy of Hallares. For instance, PWDs as a clear rule must have at least 20% discount from all establishments such as hotels, restaurants and recreation centers.
There should also be a minimum of 20% discount on admission fees charged y theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses and other similar places of leisure and entertainment.
Medicines should also be 20% less alongside same discount for domestic air and sea travel.
Further still are educational assistance that Hallares shared has been fully complied by TESDA in massive scholarship grants extended to Ilonggo PWDs.
TESDA programs under Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco has since been marked by hundreds of thousands in scholarship assistance with hundreds more solely for PWDs.
The law is also clear on the provision of express lanes for PWDs in all commercial and government establishments. Violators face sterner penalties, Hallares warned.
"Upon filing of an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, the proper authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business permit, permit to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted to any business entity that fails to abide by the provisions of this Act," excerpts of RA 9442 further went.
Yet while penalties are up, RA 9442 also identified incentives to those who care and live with PWDs.
The law now allows tax credits with the PWDs now considered as dependents. Individuals or institutions caring for the PWDs also will now enjoy realty tax holidays for the first five years of operation. The business will also enjoy priority in the building or maintenance of provincial roads leading to the said home or village.