Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the Observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – CHR Philippines –

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - 4:29 AM

Press Statement, Statements

Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the Observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On this year’s celebration, themed “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) emphasizes the urgent need to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in the Philippines. Genuine inclusion goes beyond mere accessibility; social stigma and systemic failures continue to create significant challenges.

For many of the 2,474,637 registered persons with disabilities[1], access to essential services like education, employment, and transportation remains an uphill effort. We must move past treating their resilience as the default solution, especially since current systems often fail to address the daily, often unnoticed, struggles, including those faced by Filipinos with unseen disabilities.

This challenge is compounded by the misuse of fraudulent identification cards, which erodes the credibility of support systems meant to assist those with genuine needs. We recognize the efforts by government agencies and private establishments to curb these abuses.

The CHR calls on government agencies, local government units, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the full and effective implementation of the following:

– Republic Act No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities)
– Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 (Accessibility Law)

We also urge the Philippine government to expand programs that promote accessibility and cultivate communities that recognize the dignity and potential of every person. In line with the spirit of Republic Act No. 11106 (Filipino Sign Language Act), we commend the Supreme Court’s institutionalization of Filipino Sign Language in court proceedings and encourage other government offices to implement similar steps to improve accessibility of public services.

Policies alone are insufficient. Societal attitudes must shift to remove barriers that hinder PWDs from living with security and equal opportunity.

As the country’s independent national human rights institution, the CHR reaffirms its commitment to building a society where every Filipino, is empowered to thrive, contribute, and participate in nation-building.###

[1] National Council on Disability Affairs, https://ncda.gov.ph/ (https://ncda.gov.ph/), Accessed 01 December 2025

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