Co-Creating Inclusive Care Economies: Innovations and Global Best Practices for Disability-Inclusive Support System (COSP19 Side Event)

Distinguished delegates, representatives of Organizations of persons with disabilities development partners, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to our side event entitled co creating Inclusive Care economies, Innovations and Global Best Practices and Disability Inclusive Support Systems.
It is my honor to serve as your moderator for today's discussion.
As we gather today at the Conference of States parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we are reminded that inclusion is not simply about ensuring access to services.
It is about creating systems that recognize the dignity, rights, and contributions of every person, particularly those who have historically been left behind.
Today's side event highlights practical experiences and emerging approaches that place persons with disabilities and their families at the center of policy and service delivery.
More importantly, this event reflects a shared belief that disability inclusion is not the responsibility of one sector alone.
It requires partnerships across governments, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, communities, and development partners.
In other words, it requires co creation.
With that, let us begin our conversation on how we can collectively build inclusive care economies that uphold rights, promote dignity, and create opportunities for all.
We will begin this conversation with the opening remarks of DSW the Undersecretary Evelyn Aribon.
Good morning, distinguished delegates, representatives of governments, organizations of persons with disabilities, development partners, civil society organizations, and esteemed guests.
Welcome to this side event on co creating inclusive care economies, innovations, and global best practices in disability inclusive support systems.
As we gather during the 19th session of the Conference of state parties to the CRPD, we are reminded that inclusive care is not simply a social service.
It is a human rights issue and a critical foundation for sustainable and inclusive development.
Across the world, Persons with disabilities and their families continue to face challenges in accessing quality support services.
Caregiving often remains undervalued and invisible, despite its essential role enabling participation, independence, and well being.
At the same time, growing care needs call for innovative, community based, and right centered approaches that leave no one behind.
Today's discussion highlights the importance of building inclusive care economies that recognize, support, and empower both persons with disabilities and their caregivers.
It is an opportunity to learn from global best practices, exchange experiences, and explore scalable solutions that strengthen support systems across the life cycle from early intervention and rehabilitation to education, employment, healthcare, independent living, and aging support.
We are honored to bring together government leaders, organizations of persons with disabilities, development partners and advocates who share a common vision, a future where care is accessible, valued, community based, and empowering.
We hope that today's dialogue will inspire stronger partnerships, innovative policies, and concrete actions that advance the implementation of the CRPD and promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.
Thank you all for joining us.
We look forward to a productive and meaningful exchange of ideas.
Welcome and let us begin.
Thank you very much, Under Secretary Evelyn Adré.
Now we proceed with our conversation on co creating inclusive care economies by having the overview of building inclusive care systems across the life cycle that will be delivered by the National Council for Disability Affairs Executive Director Glenda Alova.
Thank you, miss Moderator.
Excellencies, colleagues from the government, Organizations of persons with disabilities, development partners, ladies and gentlemen, good day.
Last year, the Philippines presented the Social Protection framework together with the different programs under the different agencies of the government that directly benefits the sector.
This year, the Philippines is honored to share its emerging Care economy Initiative for persons with disabilities, a whole of government and whole of society approach aimed at building inclusive care systems that truly leave no one behind.
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Today, we are confronted by a growing reality around the world.
Increasing numbers of children are being identified with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and psychosocial disabilities.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in six children globally experiences developmental difficulties that may require early intervention and support.
At the same time, many low and middle income countries continue to face significant challenges in early detection, diagnosis, and access to rehabilitation services.
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In one of the presentation made by the Philippine Development Pediatrician Association, the probability of children having autism is one among 31 children.
Families often travel long distances and incur substantial expenses just to obtain assessment, therapy, and specialized interventions.
Waiting periods for clinical experts, therapists and rehabilitation specialists can take months.
Consequently, many children are diagnosed late, limiting opportunities for early intervention and lifelong exclusion.
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How do these statistics relate with care economy? Behind these figures are families, particularly women.
Globally, studies by UN women and ILO consistently show that women perform more than three times the amount of unpaid care work compared with men.
In the Philippines, data from the Philippines Statistics authority similarly demonstrates that women spend significantly more hours on caregiving and household responsibilities than men.
When a child or family member has a disability, this burden becomes even greater.
Mothers frequently leave employment, reduce working hours, or forego educational opportunities to become full time caregivers.
While this care is indispensable to society, it often remains invisible unrecognized and uncompensated.
This is not merely a social issue, it is a human rights issue, a development issue, and an economic issue.
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The Philippine Care Economy Initiative is anchor on international and national commitments.
At the international level, it is guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, particularly the Principles of independent living, community inclusion, rehabilitation, rehabilitation, and support services.
The United Nations and Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals one, three, four, five, eight, ten, and 16, the convention and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, which recognizes the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women, the standards and recommendations of the ILO on decent work and care economies.
Nationally, it is founded upon the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Republic of Number 72 77 or the Magna Hearta of Persons with Disability, the Philippine Development Plan, various laws and policies and social protection, health and local governance, and the Philippines Decade Planning strategy.
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The Philippine model adopts a blended approach that combines the medical model, the rights based model, and the development model of disability.
Through this approach, we seek to dismantle barriers, build bridges, bring resilience, and create opportunities for persons with disabilities, their families, and their communities.
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Allow me to briefly present the complete framework of our persons with disabilities care economy.
A strong foundation is anchored in a unified database system so that all stakeholders are serving the right beneficiaries with the right programs and services.
This allows us whether programs should be targeted or universal in scope and programs are supported by the two strong pillars, the Philippine Decade Plan and the whole of Nation approach to prevent working in silos and fragmentation of initiatives.
All programs must be based on the blended model approach depending on the need of the sector, bearing in mind the rights and needs of the full cycle of an individual.
There are four phases with the end goal of establishing an inclusive care economy.
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The four phases of transformative pathway.
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The phase one is the Care ban.
I'll discuss this very briefly because it will be discussed further by miss Madeline.
Care ban brings services closer to the communities, which is the entry level to the care economy.
Through a multidisciplinary team composed of developmental specialists, physicians, therapists, psychologists, social workers, and disability experts, services are brought directly to communities.
Care ban focuses on early detection and screening assessment and diagnosis, rehabilitation and intervention, and family counseling and support.
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Most importantly, an individual care plan is developed for each person with disability.
It includes a medical and rehabilitation plan, a family care plan, social protection and educational referrals, community based support mechanism, and potential livelihood opportunities for family members.
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The next slide is the therapy program.
It means the care and fee is payment, training families as partners in care.
The second phase connects parents and caregivers to the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the therapy program.
Therapy vision is a cash for training programs where parents, guardians, and caregivers receive practical training on basic interventions that can be safely conducted at home.
This enables families to continue developmental support beyond clinical settings, while simultaneously strengthening household resilience and participation.
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Phase three is professionalizing and monetizing care work.
The third phase focuses on legislation.
The Philippines is proposing the institutionalization of the therapist concept, a framework that recognizes, professionalizes, and monetizes caregiving work performed primarily by women.
Through certification, training, social protection, and possible compensation mechanism, and paid care work is transformed into recognized economic and social contribution.
This shifts care from being invisible labor to being valued labor.
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For the phase four, from family care to community care, the fourth phase expands care beyond the household.
Many persons with disabilities are abandoned, orphaned, aging or living without family support.
Others require temporary or long term assistance that families alone cannot provide.
To address these, the initiative proposes the establishment of a pool of trained carriers, community based support services, respite care mechanisms, and community care centers in every local government units.
This represents a transition from family care to community care, ensuring that care becomes a shared responsibility of families, communities, local government, civil society, and the state.
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These are the expected outcomes of the initiative.
40% less burden, negative 2% less burden on the care, and then 50% economic prosperity among the families.
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Distinguished delegates inclusive care systems are not simply about providing services.
They are about recognizing human dignity, supporting families, empowering women, and enabling persons with disabilities to participate fully in society.
The Philippine Care Economy Initiative seeks to transform care from an invisible burden into an investment in human development.
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It recognizes that When we support a child with disability, we strengthen a family.
When we support a family, we strengthen a community, and when we strengthen communities, we build more inclusive and resilient nations.
As we gathered the 19th Conference of State Parties, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to advancing disability inclusive care systems that uphold the principles of the UNCRPD and ensure that no person with disability, no caregiver, and no family is left behind.
Madam Salamtpo, thank you very much.
Thank you very much, miss Glenda Relova for sharing the presentation on building inclusive care systems that leave no one behind.
This is the Philippine Care Economy Initiative.
We now proceed to the next presentation to be delivered by miss miss Madeline Hilario Eco, also from the National Council for Disability Affairs.
Her presentation would focus on reaching the last mile or mobile Innovations for disability inclusion.
Miss Madeline, please.
Everyone.
Behind every child with a disability is a family striving to provide best possible future.
Yet, many parents face significant challenges in accessing the support, services, and intervention their children need during the most critical years of development.
The CRPD reminds us that children with disabilities have the right to health, habilitation and rehabilitation, education, family support, and full participation in community life.
Yet, for many families, these rights remain difficult to realize when services are fragmented, distant, or inaccessible.
The developmental assessment, rehabilitation and empowerment for children with disabilities or care V was developed as a community based response to these challenges.
This slide shows the Cavan service pathway.
We begin with community outreach to identify and engage children and families who may need support.
This is followed by screening and identification to detecch developmental concerns as early as possible.
Children then undergo a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment leading to individual care plan tailored to their specific needs and goals.
Based on this plan, children receive appropriate interventions and therapy while parents and caregivers are empowered as active partners in the process.
Finally, follow up and monitoring.
Ensure continued support, track progress, and help families access the services they need over time.
Through this integrated approach, CAR Van brings care closer to communities and promotes early intervention, inclusion, and better outcomes for children with disabilities.
By bringing multidisciplinary developmental assessment, rehabilitation, and family support services directly to undeserved communities, CR Van bridges geographical barriers.
Beyond service delivery, care vas strengthen the care economy by recognizing and empowering parents and caregivers as essential partners in a child's development.
Through assessment, intervention planning, capacity building, and coordinated referrals, families are equipped with knowledge, skills, and support necessary to nurture their children's growth and participation.
It also builds inclusive communities and advances CRPD implementation.
At the core of the program is the individual care plan that places the child's at the center of an integrated support network.
Health and rehabilitation services, family support, education, social protection, community resources, assistive technology, and future employment pathways are coordinated around the needs and aspirations of each child and family.
Today, we share an initiative that demonstrates our community based rehabilitation, family empowerment, and integrated care systems can work together to advance the rights of children with disabilities while strengthening inclusive care systems at the local level from rights to implementation.
I invite you to watch a short video that highlights the experiences of children and families.
This project was piloted already in four provinces in the Philippines and for this year, we are targeting ten more provinces.
Every child is unique.
Every child learns differently.
Every child has strengths, interests, and dreams waiting to be discovered and supported.
Across the Philippines, families nurture these possibilities every day, encouraging their children to learn, grow, and participate in their communities.
But unlocking a child's full potential often begins with access to the right support at the right time.
But pork subato, a alphabet, Lang, For many families, accessing developmental assessment and specialized support is costly and not accessible.
Services are often concentrated in larger urban centers, making them difficult to reach for families living in more remote communities.
Car search YouTube, possibly hyper teachers known intervention my information regarding una, the SWD daycare caravan, you and I decided, Children 0-5-years-old is very critical in the investment on persons with disability because it was during this time that it's what we call the window period where in the development of all children's opportunities are ongoing.
So it is crucial for us to have early diagnosis at that age so that proper interventions and rehabilitations can be given.
We know that there are like limitations or functional limitations or ailments or disabilities, but the disability can be minimized when we diagnose it early.
And proper intervention and treatment should be given at that early stage.
Well, Kerman is important because we are trying to invest on our children.
It's also a doorway for other programs and services for persons with disability.
However, there's a gap in the diagnosis here in the Philippines.
We only have 107 developmental pedia catering for all the children in the Philippines.
So could you imagine for those children living in the far flung places, They haven't seen a developmental pedia in their entire lives.
It's a one stop shop.
So we have rehabilitation doctors, occupational therapies, speech pathologies, we even have clinical psychologists.
So that's the beauty of having this care van.
It's a one stop shop, and we are here saying to the family and to the child that we know what you're going through, we understand, and we are here with you.
You're not alone in your journey.
In Masalit Kusa Inclusion begins with access, and it becomes possible when families, communities, government, and partners work together to remove barriers and expand opportunities.
Together, let us move from commitment to implementation, ensuring that every child with a disability has the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Madeline Eco from the National Council for Disability Affairs for sharing the Philippine experience in reaching the Last Mile through Mobile Innovations for disability inclusion.
We now proceed to the next presentation and allow me please to share with you the project implemented by the government of the Philippines to support persons with disabilities with permanent total disabilities and their unpaid caregivers who provide for their daily needs.
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By delivering services directly to households and communities, we aim to reduce barriers to access and ensure that marginalized populations receive timely and appropriate support, emphasizing that interventions are inclusive, responsive, and community centered.
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Through the pilot implementation, a total of 387 beneficiaries in the Western Visayas region and the National Capital Region were served.
The primary beneficiaries or caregivers attended two sessions of skills enhancement activities to provide a deeper understanding of their role as caregivers, adopt and learn caregiving skills and practices that will improve their quality of lives.
It also empowered caregivers to participate more actively in their communities and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.
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Aside from the training sessions, monitoring was also conducted through home visitations.
This proved to be useful as the beneficiaries were able to raise and clarify concerns regarding the medical needs of their family members with disabilities.
They were also informed about the existing city or municipality programs and services that could further support them.
This includes financial assistance or free therapy or consultation services.
These home visitation activities were also relevant in bringing government services directly to families who could not leave their homes due to caring for relatives with permanent disabilities.
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Given the successful implementation of the Ta fee project, the next strategic step is to advocate for its institutionalization through its inclusion in national strategic plans, relevant ordinances, and policy frameworks.
This will help ensure the projects sustainability, facilitate its expansion, and strengthen its integration into broader development and social protection initiatives.
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By embedding the project within national and local governance mechanisms, Thera fee can contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, particularly SDG three, ten, and 16, ensuring that vulnerable populations have equitable access through essential therapeutic and support services and that no one is left behind in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is the project of the government of the Philippines.
We now proceed to the next presentation, and that will be delivered by Mr.
Fizardo Colombo, the Deputy Director General of Testa.
Mr.
Colombo, please.
Good morning or good noon to all of us.
Thank you, distinguished moderator.
As we discussed strengthening care and support systems, I would like to emphasize a critical, yet often overlooked element, and that is developing caregiver competencies.
Traditionally, caregiving has been associated with meeting basic physical needs and ensuring safety and protection.
While this remain essential, the CRPD challenges us to move beyond a welfare based approach toward one that promotes autonomy, dignity, Choice and full participation.
The question therefore is no longer simply, how do we care for persons with disabilities? The question now is, how do we equip caregivers to support independence, self determination, and inclusion? An inclusive support system require caregivers who possess not only technical skills, but also rights based competencies.
They must understand disability rights and human dignity.
They must respect the choice and preferences of persons with disabilities.
They must be able to facilitate access to education, employment, healthcare, assistive technology, and community participation.
They must recognize the importance of communication, accessibility, and reasonable accommodation and most importantly, they must support persons with disabilities as decision makers in their own lives.
My agency in the Philippines is Testa.
Testa or TSDA is Ms Technical Education and skills Development Authority.
It is the agency created by law to formulate and promulgate standards and assure qualities in the delivery of tech book training all over the country.
Among these programs that we deliver is the training of caregivers.
It is as we look toward the future, let us build support systems that requires caregiving as a shared social responsibility and a critical investment in human development.
We therefore propose a policy that can be adopted by CSP The caregiver competency development should move beyond traditional training programs toward one, competency based standards, national certification, micro credentialing, continuous professional development.
We also suggest that in the test the competency based training certification framework demonstrates how caregiver competencies can be standardized, assessed, and recognized.
Throughout national qualifications.
Building on this experience, we see opportunities to develop stackable micro credentials that allow caregivers, family members, community workers, and support personnel to acquire specialized competencies in disability inclusion, assistive technology, independent living support, and community participation.
Such an approach promotes lifelong learning, professionalization of caregiving, and more responsive support systems.
And ultimately, caregiver competency development should not focus solely on caring for persons with disabilities.
It should focus on empowering persons with disabilities to exercise choice, autonomy, independence, and full participation in society.
A truly inclusive society is one where every person with disability is supported not only to survive, but to learn, work, lead, contribute, and thrive.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Colombo, for that presentation.
We move on to the next, and this will be delivered by miss Maria Christina Rmundo from the Department of Health, Government of the Philippines.
Her presentation would focus on Health and Wellness Program for persons with disabilities.
Miss Rymundo, please.
This presentation highlights the strengthening of disability inclusive health care under the Department of Health through the Health and Wellness Program for Persons with Disabilities, using a from policy to services approach.
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The Universal Health Care Act of 2019 is supplementing rules and regulations established a framework for ensuring equitable, quality and affordable health care for all Filipinos through a coordinated and systematic approach involving all health sector stakeholders To guide the implementation of the Universal healthcare, the Department of Health under the leadership of Health Secretary Juda Herbosa adopted the health sector strategy, the National Objectives for Health, and the eight point action agenda.
These strategic frameworks provide clear directions and priority interventions to strengthen the health system, improve health outcomes, and expand access to comprehensive health services.
This health sector aims to achieve three strategic goals.
One is better health health outcomes through improved health status and reduce equities, two is stronger and more resilient health systems that are responsive to the needs of the population, and equitable access to promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative palliative services without financial hardship.
Central to these efforts is a commitment to place every Filipino, every community, every health worker, and every health institution at the center of health sector reforms, ultimately contributing to the vision of making Filipinos among the healthiest people in Asia by 2040.
With this slide showing you this framework that the Department of Health in accordance with the Republic Act 72 77, or the Magna Carta for persons with disabilities is mandated to ensure access to health services and rehabilitation programs for persons with disabilities.
To strengthen this mandate, the Department of Health issued an administrative order which guides the health and wellness program for persons with disabilities and promotes equal access to inclusive health and rehabilitation services.
Aligned with the World Health Organization's global Disability action plan, the program focuses on improving access to health services, strengthening rehabilitation assistive technology, and enhancing disability data and research.
It delivers a continuum of services across the life course, including prevention and early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, assistive devices, mental health support, and community based rehabilitation, supported by accessible facilities, trained health workers, and disability inclusive financing and referral systems.
But overall, the program aims to improve functioning, independence and quality of life of persons with disabilities.
In support of this framework, the succeeding slides will present the specific health services and field health benefit packages provided by the Department of Health for persons with disabilities.
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Pursuant to the implementing rules and regulations of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Health is mandated to establish a national registration and reporting system for persons with disabilities to generate data on their status, needs, and circumstances and serve as a basis for planning and implementing health programs and services.
In compliance with this mandate, the Department of Health in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs developed the Philippines Registry for Persons with Disabilities last 2009.
This system serves as a national database that captures essential information on persons with disabilities, including their demographic profile, the type and cause of disabilities, which also assigning a unique identification number to facilitate access to benefits and privileges.
As of end of May 2026, we have around 2.7 million registered in the Philippines Registry for Persons with Disabilities.
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The Field Health or Yaku stands for Yakalsgan Program, is the enhanced primary care benefit package under the Field Health Consulta Program.
It aims to provide the Filipinos with accessible, comprehensive and continuous primary health care services, promoting disease prevention, early detection, and timely management of health conditions.
Through this program, individuals are empowered to maintain good health and reduce the risk of illness through appropriate and regular health care.
Next slide, please, these slides.
Field Health Gam stands for guaranteed access to medicines and outpatient Treatment Program is a comprehensive outpatient drug benefit package under the expanded Phila Hey ACA primary care benefits.
It provides access to essential medicines for the prevention and management of various health conditions, including infections, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, nervous system disorders, among others.
The program expands the lease of covered medicines 21-75 essential drugs, supporting the government's commitment to making medicines more affordable and accessible to all Filipinos.
By providing medicines directly to beneficiaries, the program helps ensure that health funds are used for their intended purpose and contribute to improve health outcomes.
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To further support the financing of disability related health services, Field Health has developed specialized benefit packages that improve access to rehabilitation assistive devices for persons with disabilities.
This includes the benefit packages for prosthesis and artosis introduced way back in 2013, expanded in 2016, which provide financial coverage from eligible assistive devices and rehabilitation services.
In 2018, the He also launched a benefit package for children with disabilities, covering services for children below 18-years-old with mobility, hearings, visual, and developmental disabilities.
The package also supports a continuum of care, including assessments, intervention, rehabilitation, and follow up services, helping reduce the financial burden on families and promoting early intervention and improve functional outcomes.
Next slide for the last slide.
The field health no balance billing or zero balance billing policy aims to protect patients from out of pocket hospital expenses by ensuring that qualified field health members admitted to basic or accommodations and departmental health treated and other designated government hospitals are not charged beyond field health covered benefits.
Under this policy, field health covers eligible hospitalization expenses, including professional fees, room and board, laboratory services, medicines available in the hospital and other covered services.
The program is available to qualified field health members and promotes equitable access to health care by reducing the financial burden associated with hospitalization.
As a key component of universal health care, The no balance billing or zero balance billing policy strengthens financial risk protection and helps ensure that all Filipinos, particularly vulnerable populations such as persons with disabilities can access needed hospital services without experiencing financial hardship.
That's all and thank you so much and could do again.
Thank you very much, miss Rymundo for linking the health and wellness dimension.
Now, all of the efforts discussed earlier and sustainable inclusion requires institutional support.
So with that, we listen to the presentation of Attorney Sabaden As, the Assistant Secretary from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Attorney *****, please.
Thank you.
As Karen, Your Excellency, distinguished guests, best friends, ladies and gentlemen.
You already heard the very plausible and ambitious program of the NCDE in alleviating the flight of the disabled in all countries.
But as we all know, this can be best achieved If it is fully supported by the government, especially on the provision of logistics and funding, and that is that where comes in the legislature and it's my job as the Assistant Secretary for legislative as of the Department of Social Welfare and Services in making sure that all programs intended for the benefits of the disabled are given I mean, supported in in the procure in the crafting of the laws.
Allow me to walk you through on some of the legislative measures that are pending or whether it's either approved or pending before the Department different committee committee in our Senate and the House of Representatives.
One is the National Disability Authority Act.
There is there seems to be a reinforcement of disabilities lost due to the limited powers of the NCDE.
What is needed now, there is a pending will to to amend the law to upgrade NCD into a full pleads authority with expanded mandates, enforcement powers, and funding, grants, regulatory website functions, establishes a national database, disability, demographics and service utilizations.
This will strengthen the NCD into an authority ensures the full implementation of disability policies and programs addressing the gaps in enforcement and monitoring.
Another issue is the Care Economy and CBID Act for persons with disabilities.
If you look at on the left side, that's where in the concerns in the middle is the remedy to be worked out with the legislature and on the right side is what we are doing to help with.
One of the concerns is the lack of a structured community disability support and care workforce.
What is needed is to develop a community based inclusive development strategy for the care of economy, trains and employ community based caregivers, support family caregivers and community rehabilitation programs.
This will recognize the economic value of care work and builds inclusive localized support systems.
And then the Philippine Disability Rights Empowerment A or D Pl one of the key issues, concerns are the lack of unified and modernized disability rights, integrating existing legislation.
There is a need to consolidate and there is a need to consolidate all disability related laws into a single comprehensive act.
Strengthen enforcement mechanism aligning with the UN CRPD, establishes clear accountability for government agencies, local government units, and the private sectors.
This comprehensive legal framework ensures consistent rights with implementation and disability laws and programs.
And another important law is the strengthening the PDO law.
There is a limited limited funding Manpower and authority of persons with disability appears at the local level.
We are talking here at the local level and not on the national level because this is in the provinces and the municipalities.
There should be a mandate that establishes a pool funded PDO in all LGUs to ensure automatic budget allocation for PDOs separate from social welfare funds.
There should be a separation provided by the LGU as well that's coming from the national government.
Then provides capability building and training for PDO officers.
There is already existing law that established PDO in different systems, but what we want is a mandatory for all local LGUs to have their own PDO respective offices to address the concern of those PWDs and their families.
This will strengthen PDO, ensure local government implementation of national disability policies and better community based services.
There is also an Idened Person Disability subsidy Act.
This is similar to what is provided by our government for the senior citizens.
This requires there is a pending bid that promote for the I just those who want to read the bi but I'll just set in it so that you can have an ID on it.
There is a proposal to give a financial aid for the disabled for around 2000 pieces.
And the problem here is the budgetary constraint of our government.
So that's why we are looking for resources, funding sources to provide funding for these programs.
Of course, this will support this financial support acknowledges the added cost of living with disabilities and ensures the enaged persons with disabilities and access essential services.
And then the person with Disability Health and Rehabilitation Services Act I think with the details, this is already covered by the pending University Health Act of the Philippines, which cover all Filipinos, including ordinary Filipinos, the senior citizens, and of course, the disabled persons.
This is just a detail of the concerns of our PWD, but there is a general law legislature now pending before the Senate.
I think it was already approved by our Senate and pending with our House of Representatives for the universal healthcare.
It covers all Filippinos from.
And then we have the Inclusive Employment and Entrepreneurship Act, the employment rate and limited intrapreneurial support for persons with disabilities.
This will fully implement Republic Act 11228 mandatory health coverage for persons with disabilities.
I think that's what the Health, expand health coverage for established Health Consent for every province.
I think that this seems to be about the employment also.
Yeah, I think this Mondays universe I think I have already explained this to.
Another key issue is the challenges in renewing ID cards and inconsistent eligibility.
This will address the problem of the illegal use of IDs.
We have so many IDs.
It turned out that in some of the establishment in the Philippines, there are some unscrupulous person who are pretending to be disabled and they are using IDs issued although this is fictitious ID, and they use it to take advantage of the privileges and the discounts given to PWDs and There is no a law.
We are not very strict that we are providing strictly.
Only those people with disability should be given an ID so that they can provide that they can avail of the privileges and no other person can take advantage of it, which is a drain to the financial resources of our government.
Another issue is on the employment of disabled persons.
We have a law that requires all government agencies to employ at least one PWA in their offices.
And we have about 2.4 disabled in our country based on the records of the NCDE and we want to we want to make a law that would require more PDW to be employed by the government, providing them with trainings and education, and also we will provide the financial assistance to those people who are helping them but as we all know that for every PW, there is also a necessary member of his family who will help him or assist him.
So the government is there is no pending law that the government is trying to evaluate how much is really needed so that it can be achieved by the government and it will din down for the benefit of our PDW.
That's all for today and thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Attorney As, for explaining how all of our efforts can be reinforced through strong legislative and policy frameworks.
I believe we can accommodate at least three questions.
I believe we have still time to accommodate three questions.
So if anyone has clarifications or questions pertaining to the presentations that were earlier presented, now is the time to raise it.
We have a question over at the back.
Yes, ma'am.
I'd like to find out how do you fund all of this? Is there a special tax or um Where does the funding actually come from apart from government allocations? How do you fund the programs sound good.
I want to congratulate you on that.
We're from the Bahamas and we have a long way to go to catch up with what you're doing.
But I wanted to know Funding is a great problem for us.
I'm just wondering how do you fund it all? I'll answer.
So thank you for that answer.
So for the Cavan for the question.
So for the Cavan and for the therapy, it is funded by the Philippine government.
So it is through the General Appropriations Act or the regular annual budget of the government, which is lodged under the NCDA for the care vaan and for the therapy, it is under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
But I believe that the funds that the National Treasury of the government in order for them to give it to NCDA, we got a fund from the PCSO or the Philippine Charity Sweep takes office and also from the sin tax or a percentage from the sales of tobacco and alcohol.
That's where the government get the fund and then they pull it together, and then percentage is given to the National Council on Disability Affairs under a regular national programming every year.
Yeah.
But also for those other actors of the care van, like the professionals, the developmental pedia, the occupational therapies, the rehab doctors, they are doing it for free.
So it's a voluntary work of the private hospitals and independent professionals and rehabilitation clinics.
Thank you.
If I may as I said that, sir, we are also closely coordinating with our Department of Pilots Management.
We explained to them the necessity for providing us funding for the needs of these speedbilities.
And of course, there are also NGOs who helped by providing the they are building.
I think you know that one foreign group, they build the building.
I think you can explain to that that we Yeah.
The Philippine government is also in partnership with the Australian government under the Spring program where there are several agencies of the government, like the Department of Social Welfare, the Department of Interior and local government, the Philippine Women's Commission, and then the National Council on Disability Affairs and the National Commission on Indigenous People.
They are somehow funding us for for the development of databases, for the consultancy, for the research work.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for that.
We have a question over there, sir.
Very much.
Let me introduce myself.
I am Kseiva Abuno from Togo, Western Africa.
I want to congratulate all the members of the panel.
I was very interested by the program concerning the Cavan and the T ESDA.
But what I would like to know is if those presentation or the videos will be available on YouTube, for example, for us to go and find more information about them.
Thank you, and congratulations to you once more.
Thank you, sir.
So this is the first time that we showed the video.
So we made it specifically for the COSP with the help of the Spring and Australian government.
So after this, we will be uploading this at the web page of the National Council on Disability Affairs, as well as other information regarding Care Van.
Thank you, sir.
As to the TSDA or Ta, we call it Ta.
We have four modes of delivery in skills training in the Philippines.
One is the institution based.
These are the ones conducted in the schools in the educational institutions.
The second one is enterprise based.
These are the initiatives being done by the private sector where they themselves conduct their own training for their manpower requirement.
The third one is the community based, and in coordination with local governments, we deliver up to the far flung areas of the country, the delivery of community based programs, and the fourth one is the online delivery.
This was enhanced during the pandemic when everybody has to resort to the virtual mode of conducting skills training programs.
But now we have shifted almost of our programs into the online, that can also be shown by all over the world.
You can also access TSDA online.
Thank you very much.
By the way, all our training programs are for free.
It's fully funded by the government and inclusive access.
Everybody can enroll in our programs, and there is no distinction whether you are a high school dropout or a senior citizen already.
So there is no anybody can enroll in the TSDA programs.
Thank you.
Great.
We have a question? Yes, ma'am.
From the Ministry of Finance.
My question is that in Tanzania we are doing same in the school curriculum and we have the special schools which are the people with disability.
What we see when we are now localized with the local government to support the care.
Now that's why we establish when we are now developing the local market training area so that the women can have place maybe to take care of their children.
We have the program which will be implemented in region to support the child, especially with that.
But what do we see also we have the women empowerment fund, which we supported the women with disability.
The aim is that when we improve the women economically, they will be able to take care of their children.
In each district, local government authority is allocated 10%, four go for women and for economic empowerment, four for children, and two for people with disability.
Without it, we think that empowering the women economically will have the role to take care of the children.
Thus the government passed a bill specifically to support.
Although now we have the mainstreaming in the financial sector, so that they will provide specifically funding to take care of the women and people with disabilities.
In our policy, financial sector development policy and financial sector master plan, we have the objective of enhancing women children and people with disabilities.
This we thought that being so we support economically empowerment and support the children.
But what do we see, we would like to get more question because when we see in a local government and you said the government will provide support.
It will be like we have the tasa which is cash transfer for the poor community with people children.
But now what we see very important when we empower people economically, they will be able to address these schools and encourage more private partnership to open the school so that they will take care of the children, including the children with disability.
But as as a vulnerability, if we separate them, they will feel more uncomfortable.
But what we think more is more inclusive and also to the specialized teachers who can be train the children, I submit.
Yeah.
Thank you very much for that manifestation.
Yes.
Do we have another question? Yes, ma'am.
Thank you very much for the opportunity.
I would want to also to congratulate government of the Philippines for this great initiative of training caregivers to enhance care and support for persons with disabilities from Zimbabwe.
My question is, does the government of the Philippines give grants to the caregivers each month to support their children with disabilities or there is something which is sustainable, we should do to assist them in taking care of persons with disabilities who will be under their care.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
For now, the current we are still on the second page, which is the therapy.
So currently they are the Philippine government is giving cash for training.
So it's a subsidy, which is 100% of the regional wage board.
So they will have like ten days capacity building and they are being paid for that training.
But Now for the third phase, which is the institutionalization and the certification of the therapist.
So we are still waiting for the legislation where it is this will be institutionalized, just like the conditional cash transfer wherein the caregivers will have a payment or a regular salary for taking care of their children or persons with disability.
It's still under the legislation process.
But that's the goal.
Corollary to that, I think, yes, you're right.
There is no finding before the House of Representative that they want that whatever is the salary, whether because there are different minimum wage in the urban and rural and the city.
So they want to be as far.
Those who are assisting with this WD should be filled as far with those ordinary for instance, they are being assisted by a nurse.
They should receive the salary of a nurse instead of the nurse.
They are the one personally attending to the needs of their PWDs.
So it is not simply by assisting them at a minimal amount.
But what is the intention of the legislature is to make it at par with the regular salary of those who are assisting PWDs.
Although they may not be physicians, they might be just ordinary relatives, but because the issue is that some of the member of the medical group that they are not trained that I mean, they are not professional, but then what we going to do if the patient if the PWD is I mean, more confident with being assisted by his relatives.
So we just simply give them a salary as far with the provisional.
Anyway, what is the concern of this government is for the goodwill and for the improvement of the PWD.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yes.
Thank you very much for that.
In as much as we wanted to accommodate more questions but because of time constraints, we can no longer answer your concerns, but please feel free to approach any of the panel members outside the conference room and let us continue this conversation.
Now, if you have also other questions, you may email the same to counsel at cd.gov dot p.
Now, the presentations we have heard today converge around a single and powerful message.
That is achieving the vision of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is building inclusive care systems that place persons with disabilities, their families, and their well being at the center of development.
The discussion began with building inclusive care systems that leave no one behind.
We were reminded that many persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in accessing healthcare, rehabilitation, education, social protection, and economic opportunities.
Central to this vision is the recognition that health and wellness are fundamental pillars of inclusion.
Rights and policies must be translated into tangible services.
This is where reaching the last mile becomes critical.
Through Care Van, specialized Health and Rehabilitation services, we are able to bring services directly to underserved and geographically isolated communities.
Building on this foundation, Theray highlights the critical role of families and caregivers in sustaining health and well being.
The next important step is developing caregiver competencies for inclusive support systems.
So these efforts must all be reinforced through strong legislative and policy frameworks.
Legislative action institutionalizes inclusive practices, strengthens accountability and provides the foundation upon which innovative programs such as care Van and Theray can be sustained and scaled.
Now, taken together, these presentations present a comprehensive roadmap for disability inclusion.
It is a framework for advancing rights, promoting dignity, and ensuring that persons with disabilities can live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives within their communities.
So by investing inclusive care economies, we invest in healthier communities, stronger families, and a future where every person with disability can live with dignity, exercise their rights, and realize their full potential.
Only then can we say that no one is left behind.
So let me now end where we began.
Disability inclusion is not about bringing people into the system.
It is about building systems that work for everyone.
When care reaches the last mile, rights become realities.
Thank you, everyone, and enjoy the rest of the CUSP.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you, Madam Salamtpo