SINIGURO ni presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., na palalakasin ang mga programa para sa mga persons with disabilities (PWDs) sa pamamagitan nang pagbibigay ng pantay na oportunidad hindi lamang sa batas kundi maging sa realidad sa buhay.

“I believe we haven’t done enough for them. We have more than one million brothers and sisters who are PWDs and they and their families needed support. We want them to feel that they enjoy the same privileges and opportunities,” ani Bongbong.

“We have laws and policies that are structured to protect and promote them but I feel we could do more. As they say, those who have less in life must have more in law,” dagdag pa niya.

Paliwanag ni Bongbong, hindi lamang mahalaga na mabigyan sila ng karapatan sa mga pampublikong lugar, kundi ang makalahok din sa labor force ayon sa kanilang galing at kaalaman.

“We see them doing massages in the malls and other places, busking in the streets and doing other odd jobs, but they can do more than that,” sinabi ni Bongbong.

“By protecting and empowering them, we are also protecting and empowering their children, their parents, and their love-ones. Despite the laws that are already in place, we see the need to help them in terms of healthcare, education, transportation, and other special concerns,” aniya pa.

“Furthermore, we have to compel government facilities to strictly adhere to the requirement of accessibility for PWDs and elderly specifically in train stations, airports, and seaports,” giit ni Bongbong.

“We also have to ensure that they have functioning elevators and escalators at all times.”

Pinansin din ni Bongbong na hindi sapat ang P52.44 milyong budget ng National Council for Disability Affairs para maayos ang kalagayan ng mga PWDs.

“If I’m given the mandate, I will ask the local government units and business sector to help and do their share to help our PWDs by giving jobs and other means of livelihood. Some entrepreneurs are already practicing inclusivity in their workforce by hiring them, we still need more of these, let us lend a helping hand and make them feel that they are part of our dream na sama-samang bumangon para sa kinabukasan,” ani Bongbong.

Kailangan din umano ang maayos na implementasyon ng LGUs sa tulong ng mga pribadong sektor ang RA 10070, o ang Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, para masiguro ang serbisyo at kapakanan ng mga PWDs.

Nitong 2019, lumabas sa pag-aaral na 40 porsyento ng LGUs sa bansa ay walang Persons with Disability Affairs Office at mababa rin ang kaalaman ng mga lokal na opisyal sa RA 10070.

“We take cognizance of this situation and we will fix it as soon as we start implementing the changes in our healthcare system. It will have to be a multi-pronged approach because the problems that we have are interrelated,” binanggit ni Bongbong.