Quezon City Council Approved PDAO Ordinance on Second Reading

By: Ranil Sorongon, ASP Executive Director

The Quezon City Council headed by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte approved on second reading the ordinance sponsored by Hon. Alfred Vargas establishing a Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) that will take care of the programs and services of persons with disabilities (PWD) of the said city.

The ordinance was co-sponsored by Councilman and Majority Floor Leader Bong Suntay, PWD Advocate Hon. Allan Reyes and Hon. Pinggoy Lagumbay.

Hon. Vargas, a neophyte councilor of Quezon City made the PWD concerns as one of his advocacies during his election campaign. The ordinance on PDAO is one of his priorities upon assuming his position as councilor. Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is one of the PWD organizations in Quezon City that showed its support by attending the first and second sessions of the council where the proposed ordinance was deliberated.

Other PWD organizations who attended the second sessions are the Philippine Blind Union, Philippine Blind Masseurs, Cerebral Palsied Association of the Philippines, Deaf Ministry Foundation, the Philippine Association of Parents of Children with Developmental and Learning Disabilities and the Federation of PWD of Quezon City headed by Mr. Renato Cada, the president.

The office of Councilor Vargas will coordinate with the different PWD organizations on the date of the third and final reading of the ordinance for them to attend.

The QC PDAO ordinance will fast track the creation of an office for PWD as mandated by Republic Act10070 otherwise known as the AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN INSTITTUTIONAL MECHANISM TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN EVERY PROVINCE, CITY AND MUNICIPALITY, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED PERSONS”, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.