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] [ ] Non-Handicapping Environment for Persons with Disabilities
Towards a Barrier-Free Philippines
National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (Government Agency)
Address: G/Flr. SRA Building North Avenue, Diliman,The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons is the Philippine government agency that serves as the focal point for all disability-related concerns and issues. NCWDP formerly National Council Concerning Disabled Persons was organized in 1986 in the existence was still the National Council Concerning Disabled Persons (NCCDP) reorganized the bureaucracy after the EDSA Revolution.
The NCWDP continued to have the mandate, powers, objective and functions of the NCCDPs provided by Executive Order 232 issued by President Corazon Aquino in 1986.
As the Focal Point for all disability related matters and issues. The NCWDP is the central authority of the Philippine government mandated by law to formulate polices on disability and act as an overall coordinating and monitoring body to rationalized the functions of government agencies to the prevention of the cause of disability, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. It was organized in 1986 after the EDSA revolution through Executive Order 232 abolishing the National Council Concerning Disabled Persons and organizing the NCWDP. The Council continued to have the mandate, powers and functions of the NCCDP as its forerunner. It has a Governing Board composed of heads or representatives of governmental and non-government organizations, self-help groups of persons with disabilities and civic and cause oriented organizations. The NCWDP has 57 staffs, as the Secretariat that provides the machinery to coordinate functions, organize services in partnership with associates/stakeholders programs as may be required by the Board in exercise of its functions. It is headed by an Executive Director assisted by a Deputy Director both of whom are appointed by the President.
In line with its mandate, the Council develops and pioneers programs on disability recommends/amends policies, legislation, advocates concerns of Filipinos with disabilities, partners/collaborates with other government agencies, recommends/amends policies, legislation, advocates concerns of Filipinos with disabilities, partners/collaborates with other government agencies, NGOs as well as self-help groups of persons with disabilities in the conduct of disability-related activities/projects, monitors and evaluates services, programs/projects of other NGOs, GOs and POs/self-help groups maintains international and local linkages for resource and information sharing/mobilizations.
Ms. Catalina L. Fermin, Executive Director
Access to built environments is one of the priority areas of the National Plan of Action for the Philippine Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2003-2012) which is in line with the BIWAKO Millennium Framework for Action which promotes "an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based environment for persons with disabilities" in the Asian and Pacific Region.
One of the major initiatives of the country through the NCWDP is the conduct of the Training of Trainers on the Promotion of Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) for Persons with Disabilities on 1 - 4 March 2005 with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) as partners. This training of trainers on NHE was a follow-up program of action of the seven Filipinos who attended the Regional Training Course for Trainers on the Promotion of a Non-Handicapping Environment for Persons with Disabilities in Bangkok, Thailand. The Royal Thai Government, JICA in collaboration with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific started this regional training in 2000 with participants composed of architects, government officers/planners, SPED coordinators/teachers, tourism officers and persons with disabilities coming from the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. The training was ably organized by the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), a regional center on disability established in Bangkok under the joint collaboration of the Governments of Japan and Thailand.
The seven ex-trainees of the said Regional Training Course for Trainers on NHE are the following:
Some of these ex-participants especially those from the Council Secretariat and member of the Sub-Committees on Accessibility felt the need to undertake the same training of trainers on NHE in the country to share and to apply the knowledge and skills needed in the conduct of effective inspections/access survey as well as advocates and trainers on non-handicapping environment through the universal design, approach. The March, 2005 training initiated by the Council organized the 32 participants from the 17 regions of the country as members of the NHE network on access promotion.
The Council deems it important to undertake a follow-up activity to assess the extent of the implementation of the action plans and the effectiveness and impact of the March 2005, trainers training on NHE. Most importantly the follow-up activity will allow sharing among participants as to their experiences in promoting non-handicapping environment for the sector with disability. It will allow them to sustain the campaign on NHE through the development of plans. This follow-up activity is the National Consultative Workshop on the Promotion of a Non-Handicapping Environment for persons with disabilities.
This is an undertaking which will again demonstrate collaboration/partnership among/between government and non-government organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities as well. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) which is to focal point for all disability issues in the Asia and Pacific Region relative to the 2nd Asia Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2003-2012).
At the local level, access talkshops and access audit in collaboration with the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Local Government Units (LGUs) and organizations of persons with disabilities are continuously being done to sustain the promotion of NHE.
Recognizing how urgent and much needed a barrier-free and inclusive society in making a difference in the lives of the Filipinos with disabilities, the Philippine Government through the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons deems it necessary to envisage a five-year pro-poor project entitled: "Towards a Barrier-Free and Rights Based Philippines: Creation of Non-Handicapping Environment for Filipinos with Disabilities in the Rural Areas."
As the focal point for all disability issues and concerns the Council, the creation of non-handicapping environment for Filipinos with disabilities will be used as an approach to provide human security and safety. It will benefit not only Filipinos with disabilities but also the elderly, pregnant women and children by providing safe environment through elimination/minimization of accidents that go to places where they can have opportunities for their development/empowerment. Schools, health centers, provincial/municipal/city halls, public markets are some of these places that will provide the opportunities if made accessible.
Resulting from this is a better quality of life for the sector with disability especially those who live in the rural areas. They can access to services like education which is a strong tool for empowerment; health/medical rehabilitation services which are essential to becoming fit and functioning to go to school and/or engage in productive activities.
The Council will embark into a 5-year project which will somehow bridge the gap between the person with disabilities in the urbanized center and those living in the rural areas in terms of access to services. With a non-handicapping environment Person with disabilities will not find difficulty in accessing services and more opportunities. Creating a barrier-free environment will hasten the process of integrating the sector with disability into the mainstream of the Filipino society/LGU Community. Physical and social impediments or barriers for growth and development of both person with disabilities and the LGU shall be removed.
Through the project specifically the advocacy component, the prevailing attitudes such as indifference against Person with disabilities shall be address. Local Officials shall be made accountable in breaking down physical barriers that impede their constituents with disabilities move without difficulty in search for opportunities towards their social and economic growth. As a persons with disability becomes empowered, his community benefits. He will be contributing his share and no longer a burden to his family, community and the country as well.
Creating a barrier-free and inclusive society for Filipinos with disabilities is one measure that can respond to this concern. Putting down physical barriers, advocating the issues of disability and LGU capacity building are the major project components to address the empowerment of person with disabilities who are one of the socially disadvantaged groups of the Philippine Society.
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