ON July 26, 1982, 39 years ago, an important law was passed - Batas Pambansa (BP) 344: 'An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons.' On July 24, 2006, 15 years ago today, the Philippine Congress passed Republic Act (RA) 7277: 'The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and For Other Purposes.' These laws require that public services and infrastructure be fully accessible for persons with disabilities. And yet, we see that such laws are repeatedly violated or ignored, including by public officials and agencies that are required to enforce them.

More recently, another law, the General Appropriations Act for 2021, included the following special provision under Section 33: 'Programs and Projects Related to Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability. Pursuant to existing laws, all agencies of the government shall formulate plans, programs, and projects intended to address the concerns of senior citizens and persons with disability, insofar as it relates to their mandated function, and integrate the same in their regular activities. Moreover, all government infrastructures and facilities shall provide architectural or structural features, designs or facilities that will reasonably enhance the mobility, safety and welfare of persons with disability pursuant to Batas Pambansa 344 and RA 7277, as amended.' To call attention to the widespread disregard of the above laws, today's column is devoted to the statement below by the Section 33 Coalition.