By
Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY – Verbal abuse, discounts not being honored, no priority
lanes in service centers and refusal to be employed – these are among the many
forms of discrimination that persons with disabilities (PWDs) experience until
now.
Commission
on Human Rights (CHR) information officer Daniel Paculanang shared that such
discrimination is still being experienced by local PWDs.
“We
have been receiving such reports from the PWD sector like discounts not being
honored in pharmacies, and even verbal abuse and discrimination,” Paculanan
said on Thursday (July 14).
“We
encourage them to report such incidents to us,” he added. The CHR is one of the
member-agencies of the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA) which is
chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The group’s
sole function is to monitor compliance to PWD laws, from either government or private
sector.
Paculanang
said that the PWD complainant must go to the CHR, and the cases will be
assessed to determine if his/her right was violated. If it was, the case will
be forwarded to the investigation section, where a CHR lawyer will assist the
complainant and provide free legal services. Cases can also be brought to the
attention of the PWD Affairs Office (PDAO) under the City Social Welfare and
Development Office (CSWDO).
According
to CHR lawyer Arbee Arquiza, a PWD is legally defined as a person whose
physical and mental functions are limited.
Atty.
Arquiza shared that aside from private companies, there are even government
offices who do not comply with the Building Code, which stresses accessibility
for PWDs.
The whole country
will be celebrating the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week
from July 17-23. Part of the celebration is a re-orientation for local PWDs
about their rights and privileges.