By Billy Begas
Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and three other lawmakers have jointly filed a measure seeking to grant a P2,000 monthly subsidy to parents of children with disabilities.
In the proposed Monthly Subsidy for Parents of Children with Disability Act (House Bill 6743), Duterte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS party-list Representatives Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano underscored the need to help parents of children with disability in the challenges they are facing amid the high cost of living.
Citing a study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) done in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the authors noted that expenses for raising children with disability are 40% to 80% higher compared to kids with no disabilities.
The UNICEF study also found out that poverty rates are 50% higher in households with children with disability.
The measure defines a child with disability as a person below 21 years old with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual’s functions or activities.
The P2,000 monthly assistance, which will be released by the DSWD to biological parents and court-appointed guardians, shall automatically cease when the child reaches 21 years of age.
The bill will also establish a database for children with disability that will be updated by the DSWD, National Council on Disability Affairs, Philippine Statistics Authority, and the National Privacy Commission in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
A P2 billion fund will be set aside for the initial implementation of the program.
The measure also penalizes persons found committing any fraudulent act or misrepresenting themselves as a parent of a child with a disability to be able to deceive the government into receiving the cash aid.
For first-time violators, a fine ranging from P25,000 to P50,000 will be imposed. Subsequent violations are punishable with a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.
Any other person, corporation, or organization, whether natural or juridical, found violating the provisions of the measure will be fined P100,000 to P200,000.
