By: Tiffany Tan, ASP Board Secretary
ASP was invited to the KAMPI National Conference United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held at Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon City, on May 31 - June 1, 2010.
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| KAMPI People sharing messages regarding disabilities |
The 2-day Conference was organized by Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. (KAMPI), a network of cross-disability organizations of self-help grassroots organizations of PWDs. KAMPI is a member of Disabled Peoples’ International.
The conference was attended by approximately 100 participant KAMPI members, PWD grass root organizations and other important stakeholders from private and national agencies; through the support of the World Bank group.
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| Participants during KAMPI National Conference |
ASP was represented by Ranil Sorongon, ASP Executive Director, Tiffany Tan, ASP National Board Secretary, Ms. Jean Gonzales of ASP Mandaluyong Chapter, and JR Tan, person with autism. Click here to read his report.
The two day conference aimed to 1) Promote equal rights of persons with disabilities, and 2) Develop partnership between duty bearers and right claimers in the local setting.
Day 1 UNCRPD Articles Topics
Mr. Briccio Aguilar, KAMPI President gave the welcome remarks to the participants and introduced each Regional Representatives.
Ms. Venus M. Ilagan, Secretary General of Rehabilitation International gave the Keynote Address. She reported a very comprehensive over-view of UNCRPD. The UNCRPD is an international treaty that identifies the rights of persons with disabilities as well as the obligations on States parties to the Convention to promote, protect and ensure those rights.
The Philippines is a signatory to the UNCPD. Click here to know more of the UNCRPD.
Other speakers: Ms. Jocelyn Ignacio of the Department of Foreign Affairs spoke on the role of DPOs (acronym) and NGOs in the Implementation of UNCRPD (What and how can we contribute?); Dr. Renante Basas, Director Comission on Human Rights talked on the initiative of CHR in support of monitoring the implementation of UN CRPD in the Philippines.
In the afternoon, Mr. Rheybie Nipas, Deputy Program Director on Program on Disability Affairs of SM Supermalls spoke on SM Practices as Model for PWD Friendly Establishment. How we get there? And KAMPI representative spoke on the NHRAP (National Human Rights Action Plan) and the PWDS.
In between talks, there was an open forum to answer personal and regional concerns.
Day 2 Half-Day Workshop on PDAO Law
The workshop served as the network for PWDs, to give voice in pushing for the implementation of relevant programs and policies for the sector. It focused on the newly signed PDAO Law or the RA 1000-70.
On April 6, 2010, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed into law establishing the institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities.
Republic Act (RA) No. 10070, which is the consolidated version of Senate Bill No. 3560 and House Bill No. 1387, amended RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
The law mandates the creation of Persons with Disability Affairs Office [PDAO] in every province, city and municipality with the local chief executive appointing a PWD affairs officer to manage and oversee the operations of the office.
The participants were grouped into NCR, Northern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. ASP and the Deaf Organizations had separate groups. After the workshop, each group was given the chance to report on their goals and how they intended to implement the PDAO in their own cities and municipalities.
Challenge to Leaders
Interim KAPMI officers and Regional Representatives took their oaths and signified to support one another for the PWD sector. Ms Ilagan, who facilitated the oath taking, reminded the KAMPI officers to be instrumental in achieving better lives for PWDs and to include younger PWD members.
“The children are our future,” said Ilagan. She also proposed the KAMPI officers to plan a Summer Camp for the PWDs for March next year, to train new PWD Youth Leaders for the future.
Acknowledgments: KAMPI, Sonia Rina Figueroa, KAMPI National Coordinator, ASP Volunteers Bing David and Teacher My Sorongon
ASP actively participates in policy making and advocacy programs that advance the welfare and rights of PWAs. We continue to work hard for the future of our children. Donate to ASP programs and services. How? Click here. You can also email us at autismphils@gmail.com or call us at 7-903-5496.
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