Growing up, Martin Romualdez has always had a soft spot for persons with disabilities (or PWDs). Aside from being related to someone with special needs, he was also immersed as a volunteer in a school for multi-handicapped children during his teenage years. His early experience in aiding handicapped children inspired him to write a book entitled To Be Themselves, making him a published author at the age of 16.
During his stint as Congressman, meanwhile, Romualdez filed House Bill No. 1039, a proposed law exempting persons with disabilities (PWDs) from paying value-added tax on certain goods and services. As of March 23,2016, said bill has finally been signed into Law, and is now known as Republic Act 10754.
Martin Romualdez with a PWD supporter.
“This will extend benefits to PWDs who are in dire need of support from the government because of their condition in life. I am thankful for their response to my proposal,” Romualdez said. That said, granting them tax exemptions, similar to those granted to senior citizens, will show compassion towards their plight and somehow uplift their spirits and living conditions.
Romualdez’s message of compassion or “malasakit” is interspersed in the bills he seeks to pass, and it is evident in said pro-PWD measure. He continues to hope that Filipinos will adopt a mindset that empowers the disabled and other vulnerable sectors of society instead of looking at them as incapable or treating them as “burdensome.”
The newly signed law is only the first step in enabling and encouraging PWDs to be proactive, contributing members of society. The lawmaker is, in fact, in constant dialogue with PWD groups and is drafting a new bill that will PWD groups and is drafting a new bill that will mandate all employers to be “equal-oppurtunity employers.” With this, covered employers – whether public or private, corporate or otherwise – are to identify a percentage of their employment opportunities for qualified, industry-matched PWDs and other members of vulnerable sectors.
Clearly, the disadvantage sector is composed of Filipinos who deserve assistance and privileges, as well as empowerment. Only when empowered will they be able to fully contribute to the development of the country.