NAKIKITA ng isang neophyte Metro Manila congressman na ilan sa mga tinaguriang Person’s With Disability (PWD) ang kasalukuyang nasasadlak sa kahirapan. Kaya isinulong nito ang isang panukalang batas sa Kamara de Representantes na naglalayong mabigyan ang mga ito ng P2,000 bilang suporta o monthly allowance.

Isinulong ni Quezon City 5th Dist. Cong. Patrick Michael “PM” D. Vargas ang House Bill No. 5803 na pinamagatang “Disability Support Allowance Bill” na inilapit naman sa kanya ng mga “advocacy group” tulad ng Life Haven Center for Independent Living, Nationwide Organization of Visually-Impaired Empower Ladies (NOVEL), at ang Philippine Coalition on United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ipinaliwanag pa ni Vargas na layunin din ng kaniyang panukalang batas na mapagkalooban ng tinatawag na “social protection” ang mga PWD’s o mga taong may kapansanan. Kabilang na dito ang kanilang sariling pamilya.

“HBNo. 5803 stated that persons with disabilities represent at least 12% of the adult population in the country and face significant barriers in accessing education and health care, community and citizenship participation, and seizing economic opportunities,” ayon kay Vargas.

Sinabi din ng kongresista na karamihan sa mga PWD’s ay kakarampot lamang ang kanilang kinikita. Kung saan, mas malaki pa nga aniya ang ginagastos nila kumpara sa kanilang kinikita. Kaya nararapat lamang na mapagkalooban sila ng monthly support.

“Because of multiple socio-economic barriers, persons with disabilities have less income and more expenses than those without disabilities, and under the COVID-19 crisis, their economic vulnerabilities have intensified further preventing them and their families from escaping poverty,” paliwanag pa ni Vargas.

Ayon pa sa kaniya, “In a just and humane society that leaves no one behind, it is important that we ensure equitable access and empower persons with disabilities to free themselves and their families from the poverty trap”.