i

ii

Local Participatory Diagnosis, June 2013 Published by Handicap International - Philippines Program under its project Rebuilding

Economies after Typhoon Ketsana and Strengthening Baras Municipality Utilities for

an Inclusive Local Development (REBUILD).

Cover photo: Local Participatory Diagnosis conducted in Barangay Pinugay showing

Barangay Disabled Peoples Organization’s workshop on persons with disabilities

situation in the barangay.

Compilation done by REBUILD Project Team Mary Grace Baban Ronald Genise Kahlille Jolly Seranilla Joecelyn Panlilio With contributions from Handicap International staff Satish Mishra Hugues Nouvellet Diosdado Mendoza Gilbert Guevarra Edward Ello And partners Theresita Salome G. Lloren - Tahanang Walang Hagdanan Editing Florentina Urag

Layout

Jun Daryl Zamora

© Handicap International - Philippines Program, 2013

This publication is the property of Handicap International. It has been produced with

the financial assistance of the Swiss Solidarity and the European Union. The views

expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the

Swiss Solidarity and the European Union. For more information and to download a

copy of this publication please visit www.handicapinternational.ph

iii

ABOUT HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL

Handicap International is an independent and impartial international aid organization

working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside

persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups throughout the world, our action

and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their

living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.

With a network of eight national associations (USA, Belgium, Canada, France,

Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the UK), Handicap International, founded in

1982 and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 and recipient of the Hilton

Humanitarian Prize in 2011, has programs in 60 countries and acts in both emergency

and development situations.

Handicap International in the Philippines has been operational since 1985 and is

one of the key organizations in the disability sector in the country. It has a wide range

of complimentary projects which assists to promote inclusion of persons with

disabilities and their issues in development policies and actions, build capacities of

key local stakeholders and reduce the impact of natural disasters and conflicts.

Handicap International in the Philippines is committed to enhance persons with

disabilities access to services, promote their active participation and social inclusion,

developing partnerships at all levels, in the frame of the national and international

policies on disability.

Rebuilding Economies after Typhoon Ketsana and Strengthening Baras

Municipality Utilities for an Inclusive Local Development (REBUILD) is a three-

year inclusive livelihood and rights-based project with an objective to improve access

of persons with disabilities to different developmental (livelihood, social, etc.)

opportunities. To complement this effort, the project will build the capacity of local

stakeholders to enable them to implement programs and activities that are more

inclusive of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the

project will build capacity of Baras Disabled People’s Organization so that it becomes

a significant and active local development stakeholder that will promote and advance

the needs and rights of persons with disabilities in development initiatives. The project

aims to contribute in developing an inclusive society with equal opportunities for all.

iv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

BAPDCBR Baras Association of Persons with Disabilities and their Families CBR Inc.

BDC Barangay Development Council

BDPO Barangay Based Disabled People’s Organization

BFDPO Baras Federation of Disabled People’s Organization

BHW Barangay Health Workers

BFPWDAI Baras Federation of Persons with Disabilities Association, Incorporated

BLGU Barangay Local Government Unit

CHED Commission on Higher Education

CSO Civil Society Organization

CBR Community Based Rehabilitation

DBM Department of Budget and Management

DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development

DEPED Department of Education

DILG Department of Interior and Local Government

DOH Department of Health

DPO Disabled People’s Organization

EIDHR European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

EO Executive Order

FGD Focus Group Discussion

GAD Gender and Development

HI Handicap International

ILISAMKAP Ilaw ng Lipunan Samahan ng may Kapansanan

LPD Local Participatory Diagnosis

LRTA Light Rail Transit Association

MSWDO Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office

MLGU Municipal Local Government Unit

MLGO Municipal Local Government Office

NHA National Housing Authority

PDAO Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office

SEC Securities and Exchange Commission

SPED Special Education

PWD Persons with Disabilities

I/NGO International Non-Government Organization

NSCB National Statistical Coordination Board

NSO National Statistics Office

PDAO Person with Disability Affairs Office

RA Republic Act

REBUILD Rebuilding Economies after Typhoon Ketsana and Strengthening the Baras

Municipality Utilities for an Inclusive Local Development

TESDA Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

TWH Tahanang Walang Hagdanan

v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Abbreviations --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv

Executive Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

Understanding Disability from a Global and National Perspective ----------------------- 3

Local Participatory Diagnosis: Creating a Venue for Dialogue

towards Disability Inclusion in Local Development ------------------------------------------- 6

A. Mapping of Local Stakeholders in Barangays

Pinugay, San Jose and San Juan ------------------------------------------------------- 7

1. Persons with Disabilities

2. Disabled People’s Organization

3. The Local Governance Structure

B. Prospects of Disability Inclusion in Local Development -------------------------- 17

Conclusions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

Recommendations ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20

1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The REBUILD Project is a three-year inclusive livelihood and right-based project. The

project aims to increase access of persons with disabilities to livelihood opportunities

while capacitating local stakeholders in implementing programs and activities that are

more inclusive and promote access to services. This engagement also hopes to

empower the Baras Disabled People’s Organization to become a significant and active

local development stakeholder that will ensure that the needs and rights of people with

disabilities are taken into account in development and disaster risks management

initiatives. Furthermore, the Project will contribute towards consolidating the initiatives

undertaken in the aftermath of emergency resulting from Typhoon Ketsana, focusing

specific livelihood and social supports on the three (3) selected barangays in Baras

namely, San Jose, Pinugay and San Juan, where the most needs have been

identified, including those of the displaced families presently living in the relocation

sites.

To contribute towards the inclusion of disability in local development initiatives,

Handicap International REBUILD Project Team conducted a local participatory

diagnosis in each of the three (3) barangays. Local Participatory Diagnosis (LPD) is a

tool for local assessment of the participation and fulfilment of rights among persons

with disabilities. As conceptualized, LPD aims to improve knowledge of local disability

issues such as their living conditions and barriers that hinder them from accessing

services, exercising their rights and participating in local development processes;

enhance working relations and dialogue of people with disabilities and LGUs at the

community level and; strengthen the capacities of the officers of the federation of

Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO) by involving them in diagnostic activities that

increase their awareness of their own capability to give support to barangay DPO.

A total of 49 representatives from the various stakeholders and service providers that

include the barangay-based DPOs, the federation of DPOs, barangay local

government units, municipal local government unit, assisting NGOs and the local

population participated in the Local Participatory Diagnosis.

An overview of the disability situation from the global to the national and barangay

level was presented highlighting the urgency of the issue and the need for wider

participation of major stakeholders to address the disability issue and collectively work

towards its inclusion in local development. The orientation on Local Participatory

Diagnosis as a tool for assessing the extent of participation of persons with disabilities

in local development was also discussed.

2

Mapping workshop was conducted which helped generate information on the number

and location of persons with disabilities in each of the three barangays. Simultaneous

focus group discussions with persons with disabilities comprising one group and

barangay officials comprising another group helped elicit information on the challenges

faced by persons with disabilities and existing governance structure and programs in

the barangays which can provide opportunities for inclusion and the level of

consolidation of barangay-based DPOs and the Baras Federation of Disabled

People’s Organization.

Through the LPD, local stakeholders arrived at a common understanding of disability

which helped facilitate the identification of persons with disabilities in the three

barangays. A total of 266 persons with disabilities, including their locations, were

identified. Participating persons with disabilities shared experiences on barriers that

hinder their full participation at home and in the community. Among those cited were

the lack of access to social services and opportunities for upward mobility, lack of

representation in local governance structure and perception of disability as charity

hence limiting the participation of persons with disabilities as recipients or beneficiaries

of government programs and services and not as partners in local development.

Through the LPD, the stakeholders became aware of the policies and programs that

seek to advance the interests of persons with disabilities and their specific roles and

responsibilities related to these. More importantly, the LPD succeeded in bringing

together the major stakeholders in the disability issue, a major step in commencing

the inclusion process for disability.

3

UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY FROM A

GLOBAL AND NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

A. Disability Situation Globally

According to the World Health Organization (2011), approximately 15% of the world’s

population, or more than a billion people, have a disability and about 80% of the

population with disability lives in developing countries. Moreover, about 350 million

persons with disabilities have no access to services or assistance. Common causes

of disability were hereditary, congenital, measles, natural disasters, malnutrition and

congenital deformity, inadequate housing, lack of care during pregnancy, traffic, work,

sports and home accidents, illiteracy, war / terrorism, poor sanitation and hygiene,

polio, respiratory diseases, marriage between close relatives, metabolic diseases

(Diabetes Mellitus) and drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

B. Disability Situation in the Philippines

1. Prevalence of Disability

According to the World Bank Disabled People and Development – Philippine Census

Report of 2005, one (1) out of every 4 Filipinos is affected by disability and 7 out of

every 10 Filipino persons with disabilities live in rural areas. The same report noted

that persons with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed. Disability is more

common among women, elderly, and households that are poor, and many Filipino

women with disabilities have less opportunities of participation in development and

community life. Access to education is a major issue with only two (2) out of every 100

Filipino children with disabilities allowed to go to school. Aside from education, only 1

out of every 10 Filipino persons with disabilities is given access to programs and

services.

Table 1. Prevalence of Disability in the Philippines

Source: Word Disability Report (2011) and Philippine CBR Philippine CBR Manual:

An Inclusive Development Strategy (2009)

Total no. of persons with disabilities 942, 098

Disability by sex (male) 473,332 (50.3%)

Disability by sex (female) 468,766 (49.7%)

Disability Prevalence 1.2%

4

2. Disability Situation in Baras

Table 2. Prevalence of Disability in Baras

Using the NSO data, the population distribution and disability prevalence’s per

barangay according to WHO projection is shown in Table 2. The highest population

was registered in Barangay Pinugay. It should be noted however that there may be

inaccuracies as to the population of Brgy. Pinugay, due to the boundary disputes with

Antipolo, Tanay and Morong municipalities. In the year 2000 census, reports reached

the Office of the Mayor indicating that some residents of Brgy. Pinugay were registered

with other municipalities (e.g. Antipolo) which claim to have territorial jurisdiction over

major portions of Pinugay. This table confirmed the fact that there is no reliable data

as to the numbers and factual means of verification on the precise number of persons

with disability in each barangay.

The data below is from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office

(MSWDO) and shows the number of people with disabilities in three target barangays

as of 2012. However, this number is not reliable and insignificant, because majority

from the list have already either migrated to other areas or died.

Based on their records, there are 105 persons with disabilities in the three

barangays.

1 Done during the initial identification of person with disability undertaken by Barangay Health workers and membership recruitment of BFPWDAI 2 Figure reduced to whole number

Barangay Population

Disability Prevalence

(WHO ratio of 15%)

No. of Persons with

Disabilities per Barangay1

Pinugay 7,396 1109 100

San Juan 3,242 539 41

San Jose 3,008 495 19

Total 13,646 2,1432 160

5

Table 3. Types of Disability in Baras

Type of Disability Number

Intellectual 13

Mental 1

Physical 49

Sensory 40

For further assessment 2

Total 105

3. Causes of Disability

The top causes of disability in the country according to the World Bank Disabled

People and Development – Philippine Census Report of 2005 were malnutrition,

unsanitary living conditions, poor pre-natal care, unstable peace and order situation

and vehicular and occupational accidents.

4. Challenges and barriers faced by the sector of persons with disabilities, their

families and caregivers Charity model depiction of disability

a. Negative perception of persons with disabilities

b. Inaccessible services for persons with disabilities

c. Lack of capacities of Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO) to

represent persons with disabilities

d. Weak enforcement and monitoring of national policies and laws (Magna

Carta of Persons with Disabilities RA 7277, Accessibility Law) which are

supposed to protect the rights of persons with disabilities

e. Limited awareness on disability among public officials, project

implementers, service providers and stakeholders in development

f. Limited / no impact of CBR Program as mandated in the EO3 437

g. Lack of access to public buildings, lack of health programs and services,

and lack of rehabilitation services at the local level

h. Overemphasis on their disability rather than their ability

i. Livelihood, employment, discrimination, etc.

3 Executive Order (EO) 437 or CBR programme that encourages the local government units (LGU) to adopt CBR as a means of delivering services to their constituents with disabilities and to allocate funds to support the programme. EO is an act of the President providing for rules of a general or permanent character in implementation and execution of constitutional or statutory powers as defined in the Administrative Code of 1987.

6

LOCAL PARTICIPATORY DIAGNOSIS: CREATING A VENUE FOR DIALOGUE

TOWARDS DISABILITY INCLUSION IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Local participatory diagnosis was conducted in the three barangays in Baras namely, Pinugay (May 10, 2013), San Jose (November 28, 2012) and San Juan (May 22, 2013). Participants include representatives from barangay-based Disabled People’s Organization, Baras Federation of Disabled People’s Organizations and barangay officials of the respective barangays. Table 4 shows the number of participants per stakeholder.

Table 4. Distribution of Representatives per Stakeholder

*General Public

The Local Participatory Diagnosis was conducted to map out persons with disabilities

in the three barangays, identify the challenges they faced in their immediate social

environment (i.e. family and community), provide a clear picture of the barangay

governance structure, and assess the level of organization, functionality and

competence of the barangay-based DPOs and the Baras Federation of Barangay

Disabled People’s Organizations and more importantly identify ways and means to

ensure integration of social participation of persons with disabilities in the local

planning process. A mapping workshop and focus group discussions among

stakeholders were conducted to generate this information.

As a result, the LPD helped produce an inventory or mapping of persons with

disabilities in the three barangays, as well as an understanding of the local

political/administrative structures that could provide venues for disability inclusion.

This also helped determine how the various communities are organised (and whether

these organisations are active or not), identify resource persons, and mobilize the

main actors.

The LPD focused on three (3) major areas from which information about disability

issues were gathered, namely:

Households whose members include persons with disabilities The organization to which they felt they belong The support of community/stakeholders with whom they are involved and

have participated

Barangay BDPO BFDPO BLGU MLGU GP* Total

Pinugay 5 2 5 1 0 13

San Jose 7 5 6 0 0 18

San Juan 11 0 4 o 3 18

Total 49

7

The data generated from the LPD of the three areas serves as the basis for intervention in strengthening the barangay-based DPO and the DPO federation itself. It also helped identify areas for intervention in the barangay governance structure and point for cooperation between the DPOs and the barangay officials.

MAPPING OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE THREE BARANGAYS

1. Persons with Disabilities in the Three Barangays

a. Location and Distribution

Based on the information generated from the mapping workshop conducted with the

members of disabled people’s organizations in the three barangays, there are 226

persons with disabilities residing in the said barangays.

Table 5. Distribution of Persons with Disabilities among the Three Barangays

Disability4 Pinugay San Jose San Juan TOTAL

Orthopedic 49 6 17 66

Speech 15 3 2 17

Visual 11 5 9 20

Hearing 5 11 16

Learning 14 1 4 18

Chronic 21 3 15 36

Mental 7 0 3 10

Psychosocial 0 0 0 0

Multiple 16 1 8 24

TOTAL 138 19 69 226

Physical impairments in 66 people comprised majority of the disabilities identified in

the three barangays. This is followed by sensory disabilities (visual, speech and

hearing impairments) with 53 people. The number of household members having

chronic disability is also significant with 36 individuals. This information can be used

in determining the nature of assistance appropriate to the situation of the persons with

disabilities.

4 Classification of disability according to DOH Guidelines (2009)

8

Table 6. Ratio of Persons with Disabilities with the Barangay Population

Barangay Population No. of

Persons with Disabilities

Percentage

Pinugay 7,396 138 1.86%

San Jose 3,008 19 0.63%

San Juan 3,242 69 2.12%

In Barangay Pinugay, there were 138 persons with disabilities or 61% of the total

mapped number of Persons with Disabilities. This represents 2% of the 7,396 total

population of Barangay Pinugay. Most of the persons with disabilities in Barangay

Pinugay can be found in Southville, a relocation site with approximately 2,800

households directly affected by Typhoon Ketsana last 2009. Table 6 shows the

distribution of persons with disabilities in the 10 sitios of the barangay.

9

Map 1. Mapping of People with Disabilities in the Project Areas

Source: Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator. Baras, Rizal

Barangay PINUGAY

138 Persons with

Disabilities

Barangay SAN JOSE

19 Persons with

Disabilities

Barangay SAN JUAN

69 Persons with

Disabilities

10

Table 7. Disability Situation in Barangay Pinugay

Areas Orthopedic5 Speec

h Visua

l Hearing Learning Chronic Mental

Psycho-social

Multiple TOTAL

Painaan 1 1 1 3

Pader 2 3 5

Southville 32 6 8 3 13 18 1 16 97

San Roque 1 1 2

Habitat 1 1 1 1 4

Batangasan

3 4 3 10

Corazon de Jesus

1 1

Cinco 6 3 9

Radar 2 2

Milestone 2 1 2 5

TOTAL 49 15 11 5 14 21 7 0 16 138

In Barangay San Jose, there are 19 persons with disabilities or 8% of the total number

of persons with disabilities reported in the three barangays. This is also 0.6% of the

total population of Barangay San Jose.

Table 8. Disability Situation in Barangay San Jose

Areas Orthopedic6 Speec

h Visual Hearing Learning Chronic Mental

Psycho-social

Multiple TOTAL

Calumpang 3 3 1 7

Labac 1 1

Mambog 1 1

Tuazon 1 1 2

Cervantes 2 1 3

Manila East 1 1

Sumipit St 1 1 2

GK Melchor 1 1

Trabajo St. 1 1

Total 6 3 5 0 1 3 1 19

In Barangay San Juan, mapping of persons with disabilities covered the five (5) sitios.

Members of the DPO of the barangay reported that there are 69 persons with

disabilities in their barangay. This is 2% of the population which is 3,242.

5 Classification of disability according to DOH Guidelines (2009) 6 Classification of disability according to DOH Guidelines (2009)

11

Table 9. Disability Situation in Barangay San Juan

Areas Orthopedic

7 Speec

h Visual Hearing Learning Chronic Mental

Psycho-social

Multiple TOTAL

Rumaguit 6 5 1 2 14

Malalim 5 2 4 1 1 2 15

Poblacion 4 2 2 9 3 4 24

Haligionan 1 1 1 2 5

Ibabaw 1 3 3 1 1 2 11

TOTAL 17 2 9 11 4 15 3 0 8 69

The availability of information on persons with disabilities in the three barangays will

help the barangay-based DPOs reach out to them and encourage them to participate

in the organization’s activities such as study sessions on their rights as persons with

disabilities, leadership training sessions and advocacy work on inclusion at the local

government units. Their participation in the organization and in community affairs will

hopefully bring about significant change in the public’s perception of disability and

inform and educate local governance bodies how they can be integrated in local

development planning processes.

b. Challenges Faced by Persons with Disability in their Immediate Social

Environment: The Household and the Community

i. Challenges at Home

At home, persons with disabilities encounter many and varied difficulties depending

on their impairment. In Barangay San Jose, particular experiences shared by the

participants refer to difficulties in taking a bath, cooking, cleaning the house, etc. In

Barangay San Juan, persons with physical impairment caused by stroke have

difficulties in doing personal hygiene such as taking a bath and changing clothes.

Oftentimes they rely on someone to assist them in doing these things. Mobility inside

the home becomes a problem for visually impaired individuals in Barangay San Juan

when furniture are rearranged causing unfamiliarity and confusion with their

environment.

Some family members also find difficulties in understanding persons with disabilities

due to lack of communication skills for both parties -- the persons with disabilities

themselves and their families. Persons with speech and hearing impairments are

unable to express their needs and ideas to their immediate families. In like manner,

families of persons with speech and hearing impairments cannot effectively

communicate with them hence limiting their participation in decision making especially

those that directly affect them.

7 Classification of disability according to DOH Guidelines (2009)

12

ii. Social Inclusion Problems

Persons with disabilities from the three barangays share a common experience of

social discrimination. They suffer from numerous forms of prejudices within their own

communities. While some were not done on purpose, others have publicly humiliated

them, referring to them by their impairment rather than by their names (e.g. blind,

amputated legs, deaf, etc.).

Persons with impairments oftentimes are aloof in mingling with other people outside

the house because of low self-esteem, a feeling of rejection and discrimination. They

refuse to go outside for fear of being bullied by their neighbors. Even children with

disabilities are not spared and have also experienced maltreatment in school and

discrimination by their school teachers and even by their classmates.

iii. Lack of Access to Social Services

Lack of access to social services is a major concern raised by most of the persons

with disabilities who attended the LPD.

Education

In Barangay San Juan, physically impaired children experienced difficulties in going to

school due to distance and lack of assistive devices for their mobility. Most of the time

they rely on someone to carry them to school. The same sentiment was echoed by

persons with disabilities from Barangay Pinugay, further adding that in one sitio alone,

4 out of 10 children with impairment are unable to go to school. The persons with

disabilities would be happy if a special education (SPED) class is set up. Special

education is instruction that is specially designed to meet the unique needs of a child

with a disability. This means education that is individually developed to address

a specific child’s needs that result from his or her disability.

Health

Another common concern raised by the participants is the lack of access to health

services. In Barangay San Juan, the barangay provides health services to the general

public such as immunization, feeding program, OPLAN patak, and medicines. At

times, they would conduct medical missions in cooperation with other government

units such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) but these were not enough

to address the health needs of the population, especially those of the persons with

disabilities.

Parents complained that there is also lack of information on how to prevent disability

in the family particularly disabilities that are congenital in origin.

13

Access to Water Supply

In Barangay Pinugay, water supply is located in remote distance making it far more

difficult for persons with disabilities to fetch water for their personal use. Although their

family members can do this for them, more often than not they are forced to do this on

their own, as family members are preoccupied with earning income for the family.

Livelihood opportunities

There is also lack of opportunities for persons with disabilities to be involved in income

generating activities such as self-employment and waged employment. Because

majority of them have not been able to complete their secondary education, they have

limited options for employment. In some cases, however, although many of them have

skills that they can utilize to earn an income for the family, they do not have enough

capital to start a business or there is limited opportunities for employment. The long

list of loan requirements by micro-finance institutions (MFI) in their barangays also

prevents them from availing of assistance from the latter.

iv. Exclusion in Local Development

Participation of persons with disabilities in local development has been affected

because of the discrimination they received in their community and even from

government agencies.

Participation in Local Development Processes

Persons with disabilities in the three barangays lamented the fact that they were not

represented in the Barangay Development Council or in any of its special bodies,

which could have provided venue to articulate issues and concerns faced by the sector

and commence dialogue along this line.

The Barangay Development Council is mandated to “mobilize people’s participation in

local development efforts.” Among the mechanisms set up to ensure people’s

participation is the creation of special bodies such as the local health board, local

school board, local peace and order council, local pre-qualification, bids, and awards

committee and other optional bodies (local environmental council, local tourism

council). Unfortunately, persons with disabilities or their organizations were not

represented in any of these bodies. Hence, they were not involved in the planning nor

were they consulted in the decision-making process of the council or of any of its

special bodies.

14

Inclusion in Disaster Risk Reduction Program

Likewise, persons with disabilities from Barangay San Jose complained that during

disaster situation, vulnerable groups were usually left to fend for themselves since

there is no contingency plan of the community. Relocation areas offered are not

accessible to wheelchair users and persons with visual impairment. This reflects more

of segregation rather than ensuring their safety during calamities.

In Barangay Pinugay, the situation of persons with disabilities during disasters is better

compared to other barangays since there is a contingency plan for disaster

preparedness. Rescue operations during emergency actively engage the participation

of the whole community to ensure their safety. However, there is a need to improve

the participation of persons with disabilities in crafting the contingency plan to ensure

that persons with disabilities receive the same support and services accorded to other

persons during these situations.

Budget Allocation for Persons with Disabilities

In Barangay San Jose and Barangay Pinugay, the Barangay Development Council

has allocated funds to barangay-based disabled people’s organization. The allocated

fund was sourced from the gender and development budget, which represents 1% of

the 10%, GAD budget. However, there are no proper guidelines and monitoring of the

utilization of the said funds.

2. The Baras Federation of Persons with Disability Association, Inc. and the

Barangay Disabled People’s Organizations.

The Baras Federated DPO started last 2007 when the Municipal Social Welfare and

Development Office (MSWDO) commenced documentation of persons with disabilities

in each of the ten (10) barangays in Baras. The following year, the Barangay Chairman

appointed a focal person of persons with disabilities in each barangay. Since then,

the MSWDO has been assisting these individuals in setting up their own organization.

In January 2009, the focal persons or heads of the barangay DPOs decided to form a

federation of barangay DPOs within the municipality. Two other organizations joined

the federation of DPOs from the ten barangays, namely, the Baras Association of

Persons with Disabilities and their families CBR Inc. (BAPDCBR) and Ilaw ng Lipunan

Samahan ng may Kapansanan (ILISAMKAP). In August 2010, Angelito Donaldo “Boy”

Roxas became the new president of the federation after being elected by barangay-

based DPO representatives.

Two years later, the federation was officially registered in the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC) on December 27, 2012 as the Baras Federation of Persons with

Disabilities Associations, Inc. (BFPWDAI) with SEC registration number

CN2012233579. Since then, they became actively involved in various activities in the

15

municipality. Still, the DPO needs to significantly improve their capacity to advocate

their cause, issues and concerns at the barangay level. Currently, seven (7) out of the

10 barangay-based DPOs are inactive and no meeting and documentation was done

for the last two years. The reasons for this are: a) officers in the barangay-based DPOs

had already migrated to other places, b) some had passed away, and c) others were

transferred to senior citizens’ organization where they are able to claim privileges and

incentives for senior citizens from local authorities and business establishments.

Of the three focused barangays, only Barangay San Jose and Barangay Pinugay have

existing Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO). The DPO in Barangay Pinugay is

active.

Through the REBUILD project, several meetings and home visitations to DPO

federation officers were undertaken and conducted. Social investigation made by the

project team helped to clearly analyse the present situation of the federation. The

process of integration of REBUILD project and social investigation activity led the team

to introduce organizational development mechanisms to support in strengthening the

organization, through specific organizational capacity development such as enhancing

the capacities of officers, strengthening its operational structure, revitalizing

barangay-based DPOs and development of rights-based approach to advocacy.

2.1 Barangay DPOs

In Barangay San Juan, there is no functional DPO organization that will advocate for

the rights of persons with disabilities and help improve their social involvement in

governance. Thus, the allocated budget of 0.5% equivalent to Php 17,000 from

Barangay Development Fund for persons with disabilities was not spent effectively for

their needs. Although it is mandatory for the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU)

to seek project proposal activities from the organization prior to the release of funds,

this requirement was not met due to the absence of active DPO in the barangay

Meanwhile, although the DPO in Barangay San Jose is represented in the municipal

federation, the barangay-based DPO itself is inactive.

In Barangay Pinugay, the organization is active. In fact, they have intensified their

recruitment process which account for the significant documentation of many persons

with disabilities in the barangay. The organization has been doing its mission of

improving the lives of its members. Through its facilitation, its members were able to

access services (i.e. medical referral, cataract screening, provision of assistive

devices, scholarship, medical mission and skills development training) from

government agencies such as the MLGU, DepEd, and National Housing Authority, and

non-government organizations such as the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan. Still, the

organization does not have knowledge if the BLGU has allocated funds for persons

with disabilities.

16

Generally, it is important that DPOs actively engage in advocacy work to ensure that

the rights and interest of persons with disabilities are taken into account in the local

development initiatives, i.e. planning, implementation and advocacy.

3. The Local Governance Body

The local structure of governance offers opportunities for integration of disability issues

in the program and projects of the barangays. However, barangay officials admitted

that inclusion of disability issues in local development is an area that they need to

address. A shift in barangay officials’ perspective on disability may have to be worked

out in order to facilitate the inclusion process. The perception that disability activities

are mainly the responsibility of the Committee on Health, Sanitation and Social

Services suggests the charity model perception of disability. Nonetheless, their open

admission of their limitation in this aspect is already a significant step in the advocacy

of the persons with disabilities’ right for inclusion. More so, their commitment to

improve their services to persons with disabilities and openness to collaborate with the

DPOs in generating more accurate information on the number and condition of

persons with disabilities within their barangays could provide basis for developing

appropriate programs and services.

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PROSPECTS FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION

IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Laws Mandating Inclusion of Disability in Local Development

As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Philippine Government made sure that these treaties were

translated into national policies to promote and advance the welfare of persons with

disabilities. The following were among the key policies and administrative orders put

in place by the national government:

1. Republic Act (R.A.) 7277 – Magna Carta for Disabled Persons

R.A. 7277 is an act providing for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance

of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society and for other

purposes. The act also elaborates on:

Rights and privileges of disabled persons

Equal opportunity for employment

Access to quality education

National Health Program

Auxiliary Social Services

Telecommunications

Accessibility (barrier-free environment)

Political and civil rights

2. Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 otherwise known as Accessibility Law

“An act providing for the enhancement of the mobility of disabled persons by requiring

certain buildings, institutions, establishments, and other public utilities to install

facilities and other devices.”

The act covers all public and private buildings and related structures for public use,

which shall be constructed, repaired or renovated; streets and highways and public

utilities; streets and highways; public transport vehicles; public telephones and public

transport terminals including those of LRTA.

3. EO 240 – Declaring the Period from Year 2003 to 2012 as the Philippine Decade

of Persons with Disabilities

Non-government organizations and self-help groups among persons with disabilities,

as well as other organizations are hereby enjoined to take full cognizance of the

National Plan of Action for the Decade of Persons with Disabilities and to fully

cooperate in the attainment of its goals and activities by gearing their policies and

aligning their programs to said National Plan

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4. EO 417 – Directing the Implementation of the

Economic Independence for Persons with Disabilities (Series of 2005)

All national government agencies including government owned and controlled

corporations are enjoined to support and cooperate in the implementation of the

Economic Independence Program for Persons with Disabilities.

DSWD shall develop and implement the national social preparation program

that will deal on moral values and work ethics of entrepreneurs with

disabilities

DepEd/CHED/TESDA shall continually develop a system of equivalency to

ensure access of persons with disabilities to employment and

entrepreneurship

CDA – shall develop and implement programs to promote coop organizing

and development among persons with disabilities

5. EO 417 – Economic Independence Program

Markets for products and services of cooperatives of persons with

disabilities and other organizations of persons with disabilities engaged in

livelihood.

Accessible work center

Capital for livelihood programs

6. Joint DBM-DSWD Circular No. 2003-01

Provides for the implementing guidelines for Section 29 of the General

Appropriations Act for FY 2003 Entitled “Setting Aside 1% of Government Agency

Budget for Programs/ Projects Related to Senior Citizens and the Disabled” such

as:

IEC campaign/advocacy

Human Resource Development and Capability Building

Provision of Employment Opportunities

Protection and Safety Program

Group Home / Foster Home

Policy Development / Legislations

Researches

Other Programs/Projects/Activities/Services related to their

respective mandates

7. The General Assembly of the League of Cities of the Philippines and National

Directorate of Municipalities of the Philippines passed Resolution No. 2003-13 and

Resolution No. 011-2001 respectively, encouraging cities and municipalities to

establish the OPDA with the following mandate:

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Monitoring of compliance with Accessibility Law

Implementation of the provision of the Magna Carta for Disabled

Persons

Establishment of data gathering for statistics of persons with

disabilities

Formulation and implementation of plans, programs and policies

related to the promotion of the welfare of persons with disabilities in

coordination with concerned national government agencies.

Establishment of production and livelihood sheltered workshops for

persons with disabilities

8. In September 2010, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

Secretary Jessie Robredo issued a memorandum to all local government units

reiterating a provision of the revised Magna Carta for persons with disabilities to

create a Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) — or for poorer towns,

appoint at least a persons with disability focal person.

CONCLUSIONS

Traditionally, persons with disabilities are not included in local development initiatives

due to the common perceptions that persons with disabilities do not have sufficient

capacities to effect positive change in the development of their community. In many

cases, even in the implementation of local disability laws (i.e. RA 7277, RA 10070),

persons with disabilities are not involved and are most often on the receiving end of

services as beneficiaries instead of being partner in the implementation. There should

be conscious and organized effort to contribute towards changing this scenario.

Therefore, an inclusive local development approach is necessary to collaborate with

the Local Government Unit.

At the onset, the Local Participatory Diagnosis conducted in the three barangays

succeeded in bringing together the main players in the inclusion process at the

barangay level: the barangay officials and the DPOs representing the persons with

disabilities. By allowing the persons with disabilities to express their concerns with

regard to their situation, i.e. the challenges they faced at home and in the community,

the barangay officials became aware of their vulnerability, while at the same time

recognizing the positive role they can play in the progress of the community. The

dialogue between the two groups is a good starting point to ventilate issues and

concerns of both parties and to identify points for further dialogue and cooperation.

On the part of the DPOs, the LPD made them aware of the venues where they can be

involved and how they can approach advocacy work at the barangay level. With laws

and policy instruments in place, from the international to the local level, the challenge

is how to make these policies work for the persons with disabilities.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Finally, the Local Participatory Diagnosis serves as a tool to assess the level of

participation of persons with disabilities in the barangay development processes. This

includes identifying and addressing barriers for accessing services (private and public)

at the barangay level and municipal level, thus transforming the community into one

that is more inclusive of persons with disabilities. The following are the set of

recommendation/steps to improve the relationship of the three stakeholders in local

development:

A. Barangay/Municipal Local Government Unit

Strengthening of the local governance structures to include:

Representation of persons with disabilities in the Barangay Development

Council or any of its special bodies (e.g. local health board, etc.)

Adoption of local ordinance in support of disability programs

Fund allocation and utilization specific to the needs of persons with

disabilities in the barangay

Barangay LGU must take into account the economic opportunities of

persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in their program

development planning and implementation

Genuine participation of persons with disabilities in local development

planning.

Disability development planning should be conducted together with the

barangay officials and major stakeholders, with the DPO taking the lead in

the planning process. The disability development planning will help identify

and address the barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities

in local development planning and promote collective and multi-sectoral

actions at the barangay level. This experience will hopefully inform the

municipal federation of DPOs on how to lobby the issues and concerns of

barangay DPOs at the municipal level and consequently strengthen the

municipal federation of DPOs.

Build and strengthen links with Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office

(PDAO) as a strategy for inclusive local development

To support the above initiative, partnership with the Persons with Disabilities

Affairs Office should be adopted as one of the strategies to advance the

rights of persons with disabilities at the barangay or municipal level. PDAO

plays coordination function with local government officials to promote

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disability inclusive policies and allocation of budget in annual investment

plan. However, PDAO should work with DPO and recognise their role as

self-advocates and watchdog on the rights of persons with disabilities.

B. Disabled People’s Organization (Barangay DPO/Municipal Federation)

Reorganize, capacitate and strengthen the barangay disabled people’s

organization and the municipal federation of disabled people’s organization

towards advocating for inclusion in local development processes.

There must be a strong organization to represent their sector in the

barangay special bodies like Barangay Development Council, Barangay

Council for the Protection of Children, Barangay Women Council and similar

bodies at the municipal level. Through their representation in these bodies,

they can influence policies and decisions to address their needs and

aspirations as a sector.

Identification of persons with disabilities in the area by barangay-based DPO

The process of identification of issues, problems and formulation of disability

development plans must ensure participation of persons with disabilities and

must be worked out at the household level. This will ensure greater

participation of people in the barangay and generation of reliable information

on persons with disabilities in the barangay and the municipality. This can

be done in coordination with Barangay Health Workers and the Municipal

Health Office.

Provision of training on community organizing, leadership formation,

organizational development, project proposal writing and other skills training

appropriate to the needs of the organization to help strengthen the DPOs

There should be a regular activity for feedbacking and knowledge sharing

among leaders and members of DPOs.

Awareness raising among the general public, the barangay LGU and other

stakeholders to address the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and

their families must be conscious and purposive and directed towards the

upliftment of their individual and group situation.

Improve the LPD processes to optimize its potential for inclusive local

development. Secondary data and other source documents such as annual

investment plan, barangay annual plan and other pertinent documents

should be made available during the LPD.

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C. Service Providers

The role of the service providers and other stakeholders also need to be

accounted for to ensure that disability inclusive services are made available to

persons with disabilities.

Adoption of twin-track approach so that services offered by service providers

are sensitive to the needs of the sector. With this, service

providers/stakeholders shift their services from segregated approach to

inclusive ones.

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