BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – The Baguio City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) and the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA) are calling on all local government units to establish their respective PDAO office, emphasizing the need for the sector’s inclusive participation to national and local governance.
PDAO head Samuel Aquino explained that Republic Act No. 10070 or PDAO Law requires all provinces, cities and 1st to 3rd class municipalities to establish PDAO while 4th to 6th Class municipalities need to designate a focal person to perform the duties of a PDAO, to ensure that policies, programs and services for PWDs are implemented at the local level for them to fully participate in building an inclusive society for all.
“In selecting a PDAO head or focal person, priority is given to qualified and eligible person with disability but equal opportunity to any qualified applicant,” Aquino said.
Among the functions of a PDAO include the following; formulate and implement policies, plans and programs for the promotion of the welfare of PWDs in coordination with concerned national and local government agencies; Coordinate and implement the provisions of R. A. No. 10070, the Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law, and other relevant laws at the local level; Represent PWDs in meetings of local development councils and other special bodies.
Aquino shared that the Baguio City PDAO was established in 2018. It currently has five personnel composed of one Disability Affairs Officer III, one DAO II, one DAO 1 and a sign language interpreter. It has three sections namely; the data management section, program and service section and the Accessibility and Complaint section.
He also informed that the city recently created its Local Disability Council through Executive Order No. 83 series of 2024. (JDP/MAWC-PIA CAR)
