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| July 23, 2007 |
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| Persons with Disability in RP Gets More Incentives |
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Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently approved into law Republic Act 9442, an Act amending Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and for other Purposes” passed in 1992. The law provides additional privileges and incentives to persons with disability.
The new law provides persons with disability 20-percent discount on the use of services in Philippine hotels and similar lodging establishments and restaurants; admission to cultural and recreation centers, leisure and amusement places; purchase of medicines from drugstores; fees for medical and dental services, and diagnostic and laboratory examinations; and fares for domestic air and sea travels, public railways, skyways and buses.
It also encourages persons with disability to pursue primary, secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, vocational or technical education in public and private schools, through entitlements to educational assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, financial aids, or subsidies, provided they meet minimum admission requirements.
The Act, which recognizes the role of persons with disability as consumers, also requires commercial and government establishments to give priority assistance or provide express lanes to them.
Tax deductions will also be granted to individuals and nongovernmental institutions caring for persons with disability.
Another salient feature of the law is the protection of persons with disability against vilification and public ridicule that would result in their loss of self-esteem. It also tabled penalties for persons who make fun or mockery of them and speak out abusive remarks against them. |
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