House OKs bills on nat’l week for deaf, dwarfism awareness month on 2nd reading
MANILA, Philippines — Bills seeking to designate the last week of September as the National Week for the Deaf and the month of October as the National Dwarfism Awareness Month have been approved by the House of Representatives on second reading.
During Tuesday’s session, House Bills (HB) No. 4644 and 4646 — both authored by Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas — were approved via viva voce or voice voting.
HB No. 4644 is the National Dwarfism Awareness Month Act, while HB No. 4646 is the proposed National Week of the Deaf Act.
In his explanatory note for HB No. 4646, Vargas said the country has been committed to upholding and protecting the rights and welfare of persons with disability (PWDs), but there is still a need to create programs that promote inclusivity and discourage discrimination.
“However, the State must continue to proactively forward cultural innovations to combat stigma and discrimination to members of the PWD community in order for the nation to reap the fruits of these progressive laws,” Vargas said.
“In line with the International Week of the Deaf, a worldwide initiative since 1958 celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community on the last week of September to commemorate the same month the first World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf was held, the country must exert its efforts and use this opportunity to promote awareness for the plight of people who are deaf,” he added.
READ: Speaking to those who can’t hear: Why sign language matters in campaigns
Vargas also said that despite Filipinos with dwarfism taking huge roles in society, they are still facing several challenges in terms of opportunity.
“Despite the validity of their existence and their contributions to society, little people continue to face challenges in accessing equal opportunities for all, are stigmatized and are discriminated due to being different,” the lawmaker said.
READ: How the deaf deal: Finding work and working to be heard
“This bill seeks to declare the month of October of every year as the ‘National Dwarfism Awareness Month’, for the purposes of instilling public awareness of the human rights situation of the Filipino Little People. Likewise, October twenty-fifth of every year shall be declared the “National Dwarfism Awareness Day” for the purposes of promoting recognition and acceptance to persons with dwarfism,” he added.
READ: Little people, big lives, bigger dreams: Defying the challenges of dwarfism
