The disabled - ignored and discriminated

Last week I wrote about a neglected group in our society – the senior citizens. Today I write about another ignored and discriminated group – the Disabled.

Who are the Disabled? These are citizens who have physical or mental impairments like the blind, the deaf and mute, the crippled, the mentally impaired, etc. But there are many other cases of impaired people who also belong to this group aside from those mentioned above.

What are their rights? Section 2 of RA 7277, the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons states that: a) Disabled persons are part of Philippine society… the State shall adopt policies ensuring the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons; b) Disabled persons have the same rights as other people… They should be able to live freely and as independently as possible… Disabled persons’ rights must never be perceived as welfare services by the government; c) The rehabilitation of the disabled persons shall be the concern of the government in order to foster their capacity to attain a more meaningful, productive and satisfying life. Rehabilitation services and benefits shall be expanded beyond the traditional urban-based centers to community based programs that will ensure full participation of different sectors as supported by national and local government; d) The State also recognizes the role of the private sector in promoting the welfare of disabled persons and shall encourage partnership in programs that address their needs and concerns; and e) To facilitate integration of disabled persons into the mainstream of society, the State shall advocate for and encourage respect for disabled persons. The State shall exert all efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to disabled persons.

Has our country lived up to these ideals? I’m afraid, we have failed as a people and as a nation in caring for these people who need our care, our attention and the respect they deserve. The public and private facilities for instance have left them out except for the wheelchair ramps and comfort rooms already part of the building requirements. Many schools have closed their doors to the disabled simply because they have not developed programs for them. Government welfare services have not invested in modern equipment to facilitate the developmental needs of these people. Factories and companies continue to discriminate such citizens merely due to ignorance of their abilities and capabilities.

The Filipinos are good people. We care for one another but we need to be educated and informed. This is where the DSWD has failed. We are ignorant about the different people in our society who need help, thus we tend to discriminate them.

A few days ago, I received a letter from a friend about an incident that happened to a young man with disability. Jose Cabaltera is not poor. He is an educated man with a pleasant disposition. His only disadvantage is that he cannot walk.

One Saturday night, he went out with his friends to Resort’s World in Pasay City. After having dinner, his group decided to head for Opus Bar for some drinks. As he was about to enter, the doorman stopped him and told the group that the bar does not allow people in wheelchairs to enter for the protection of everyone.

Jose was embarrassed and could not believe what he heard. There was no reason for him to be refused entry especially in a supposed internationally acclaimed standard chain of resorts. Was this an act of discrimination? Did Opus Bar just violate a provision in RA 7277? How will the National Council on Disability Affairs and the DSWD react to the situation? I am pretty sure there are many disabled citizens out there who are victims of such ignorance and prejudices. So, again, what has our government done?

I hope that Dinky Soliman gets the message. She needs to work extra harder. Sure we see her around fighting for justice but now that she is installed as the head of DSWD what reforms is she seeking for aside from merely distributing rice subsidies? She must open her eyes to creating more effective ways to improve the welfare of our citizens, protecting and promoting the rights and the welfare of the poor, vulnerable and the disadvantaged individuals as stated in the DSWD mission. This is what matters most!

In a country report prepared by ADB on Disabled People and Development, it is mentioned that issues such as non-inclusion; limited access to basic social services, mainstream education, social protection, and employment; housing; and health and rehabilitation must be addressed within the context of full participation of people with disabilities in community life if they are to be included in the development process. Without access to a full range of community services as a vital step, Filipinos with disabilities will not be able to confront barriers to inclusion in general and will always be isolated and unserved.

Society can sometimes be harsh and insensitive to the needs of people with disabilities. People stare wherever they go and worse shun away from being in the same room with them. We must change our ways, re-educate ourselves and begin to look at disabled people as contributing forces to society.

By the way, last week the Palace just released P435.6 million social pension fund as payment (P500 monthly pension) to 140,0000 indigent senior citizens as one of the benefits in the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. The Palace also released P11.186 million to the Department of Social Welfare to help people with disabilities. Let’s hope that this is just the beginning of a drive to security for these citizens and not just an added “pa-pogi” point in preparation for P-Noy’s State of the Nation Address in July.

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Our very dear friend and comrade, the late Alejandro “Anding” Roces who died last Monday leaves a bright path of light for the Filipinos. He has taught us many lessons. Let us keep them in our hearts. This new generation will miss the wisdom of such a man but it is up to us to keep his legacy burning.

“Anding” as my late father fondly called him was a fighter of freedom and a bastion of education. My family shall be ever grateful to him for insisting that my grandfather the late Benito T. Soliven’s monument be installed in Plaza Burgos, Vigan to inspire the youth.

His work for our country is over. It is up to us now to continue threading along his path. Rest now our dear friend and mentor, rest now! If my dad were alive I am sure he would have used this poetry excerpt (from a poem he has written in his youth) for his dear friend, Anding:

How sweet ‘tis is to rest by life’s pathway, after the battle is done

Unmindful of hatred or sorrow, for the sting of all pain is gone

Knowing the guerdon is taken, the lifelong battle is won…

While dusk paints the west with splendour, we lay down sabre and pen,

We sink into deep, strong slumber, never to waken again

And leave our records written, deep in the hearts of men…

Fly now to heaven’s path Tito. We will sorely miss you. But you are now together with your friends and all your loved ones — please pray for us as we do for you!