Release of expanded PWD law’s IRR sought

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Ralph Recto is asking concerned government agencies to speed up the release of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10754, the law expanding the tax breaks and other benefits for persons with disability (PWD), four months after it was signed into law.

“I hope that the IRR of Republic Act 10754 will be out soon,” he said. “It’s the missing link in its full implementation. This is just a gentle reminder to all concerned.”

Recto said without the IRR, RA 10754 is like a new car that just sits in the garage.

Under the law, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the drafting of the IRR.

Recto said since RA 10754 was signed in the closing months of the Aquino administration, work on the IRR was not completed for lack of time.

“And the new administration is still only on its third week,” he said.

“So hopefully after they are done with the transition in the DSWD, they can resume work on the implementing rules of this very important law.”

“The rules are forthcoming  because Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo is a very competent official and she has been apprised as to the urgency of an IRR which millions of PWDs are waiting for.”

RA 10754, the Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability, tasks the DSWD, in consultation with the Department of Health, Department of Finance and the National Council on Disability Affairs, to formulate the  IRR.

Meanwhile, a bill seeking to require television franchise holders or station operators and producers to use closed caption methods in their broadcasts or programs has lapsed into law, according to Sen. Grace Poe.

The law allows the hearing-impaired full access to information and opportunities.

The chairman of the Senate committee on public information and mass media and principal sponsor of the bill in the 16th Congress, Poe said the Closed Caption Law has been assigned Republic Act No. 10905.

Poe said the Act Requiring All Franchise Holders or Operators of Television Stations and Producers of Television Programs to Broadcast or Present Their Programs With Closed Caption Options will take effect 15 days after its publication.

“One of the objectives of this legislation is to provide our hearing-impaired access to news, entertainment and information in promoting their welfare,” she said.

“Full realization of the goals of the measure is consistent with the Philippine government’s commitment when it ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, which states that there should be full accessibility and recognition of the linguistic and cultural identity of persons with disability.”