The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) have initiated a nationwide consultation process with persons with disabilities to craft the Philippine Decade Plan on Disability 2027–2036.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao stated that the government is directly engaging Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to pinpoint systemic obstacles to public service access and integrate their first-hand experiences into the upcoming 10-year framework.
“In line with the SPRING program of the Australian Government in the Philippines, the NCDA is conducting regional consultations with OPDs. Naka-focus ang consultations sa mga perspectives o experiences ng iba’t-ibang mga persons with disabilities, at sa pag-identify ng mga key barriers sa pag provide natin ng services sa kanila,” Dumlao said.
The regional dialogues are being carried out through the Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) program, a ₱1.5-billion flagship initiative supported by the Australian government through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The five-year project focuses on reducing poverty and enhancing social inclusion throughout the Philippines.
Initial consultations hosted by the NCDA—an agency attached to the DSWD—have already taken place in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
While statutes like the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities and its supporting amendments exist to uphold civil rights, Dumlao acknowledged that local implementation remains inconsistent due to data gaps and resource limits.
“In crafting the Philippine Decade Plan on Disability, we are addressing the challenges that our country faces. We are part of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), that is why DSWD is committed to support the NCDA is committed in advancing social inclusion for the welfare of the sector,” Dumlao said.
Participating OPD delegates highlighted key issues and proposed structural reforms to dismantle social stigma and policy barriers that restrict equal participation.
“Cluster 1 pa lang ang tatlong region na kasama last week. The NCDA is already coordinating with other OPDs across the country para ma-consolidate lahat ng data sa pagbuo ng Philippine Decade Plan on Disability,” Dumlao added.
The consultation rollout will proceed across four remaining regional clusters:
- Cluster 2: Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region
- Cluster 3: Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas
- Cluster 4: Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region
- Cluster 5: Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)