BAGUIO CITY – The signing into law of Republic Act (RA) 10754 or the law that will grant additional benefits and privileges to the persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a breakthrough in efforts to extend utmost assistance to the marginalized sectors like he PWDs, Leyte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said here recently.
Romualdez, one of the principal authors of the law in the House of Representatives, said that the additional benefits and privileges granted by the law to the PWDs will help contribute in helping uplift the living condition of the members of the marginalized sector which is one of the priorities of the government.
RA 10754 amends the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons to allow the additional exemptions granted to PWDs. The principal authors of the House and Senate versions of the bill are Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.
It also grants a P25,000-annual income tax deduction to relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, who are caring for and living with a PWD.
“This recently enacted law expands the benefits and privileges of PWDs and their families under the existing Magna Carta to further alleviate the plight of Filipino PWDs and promote their welfare,” said Romualdez stressed.
Romualdez and Recto thanked Aquino for signing the bill into law. The Leyte congressman noted that the President decided to support the measure “despite not being a priority bill.”
Aside from the added tax privileges, the law also provides that PWDs will be entitled to 20 percent discount to goods and services as well as their exemption from the 12 percent value added tax on basic services among others.
Romualdez called on the social welfare and development department to fastrack the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations of the new law so that the PWDs and their families will be able to immediately avail of such benefits and privileges granted to them by the government to help alleviate their living condition.
According to him, PWDs should not be belittled by the normal people primarily because of their disabilities because PWDs can also excel in their work if given the opportunity to do so, thus, the need for compassion and understanding to their plight as part of the society where people stay.
Romualdez also called on the private sector to give due respect and recognition to the plight of PWDs and grant them the added benefits and privileges, provided that, they are able to show their appropriate identification cards showing that they are duly recognized members of the PWD sector in a certain locality.
By Herald Express News Team