The 2013 Philippine Parallel Report on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The 2013 Philippine Parallel Report on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Voices of the truth from an invisible sector 

For the first time in the history of the human rights movement in the Philippines, disabled 
peoples' organizations (DPOs) have come together to make their voices heard before the United Nations. 

The Philippine Coalition on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a 
civil society alliance representing over 65,000 Filipinos with disabilities from at least nine 
disability constituencies, presents an evidence-based document on implementation by the State of its commitment to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Filipinos with disabilities. 

The 60-page document, a product of three years of data gathering and analysis on the civil, 
political, economic, social and cultural rights of Filipinos with disabilities brings together 
never-before considered questions and information from a sector which has, for the longest 
time, remained largely unheard of, unseen, and forgotten. 

The Report considers the extent of the impact of the Convention, ratified in 2008, on the lives 
of Filipinos with disabilities – for those living in urban or rural areas, in conditions ranging 
from abject poverty to legalized institutionalization, and through the eyes of women, or 
children, or elderly Filipinos with disabilities. It unflinchingly presents the day-to-day realities 
of a Filipino with disability as s/he struggles in the home, in the classroom, at the polling place, 
at the workplace, in the hospital, and even in the courtroom. It publicly discloses for the first 
time, images of Filipinos with disabilities struggling to survive and live in the streets, in 
mental institutions, in prisons – facing relentless barriers of environment and attitude, from 
birth to the point of rape, torture and death; facing blatant discrimination from individuals or 
organizations; and injustice perpetuated by practice, and even legislation. 

The Report speaks plainly and draws numerous examples of denial of reasonable 
accommodation, of squandered opportunities for progressive realization, and the maximum use of available resources. It describes the lack of awareness that has led to gaps in policy, 
implementation, financing and monitoring. It clarifies once, and for all, that impairment is not 
equivalent to disability, and that disability is not a tragic destiny of the individual, but a learned 
pathology by society. Thus, it underscores the need to radically shift the view of disability 
from that of charity, and of cure / treatment, to one of dignity, diversity and humanity. 

Despite the tremendous challenges relating to transparency and availability of gathering of 
government data, the Coalition asks for the very first time, the question “how much is the State 
spending for persons with disabilities?” The Report proceeds to also describe how many, and 


which, of the few Filipinos with disabilities, are able to actually receive benefits from programs 
or services for health, education, social protection and justice. 

This Report speaks the truth on the situation and lives of Filipinos with disabilities, and it is not 
a pretty picture, or one that the State or the public may want to see, or feel comfortable to 
accept. Yet, for things to get better, we must see the truth clearly. Frustration, emotion and 
even anger, will perhaps come through between the lines of this Report, and we do not 
apologize for it. The words in this Report speak for those who cannot do so, or come forward 
for themselves, or for those who no longer have breath to speak. We bring these messages of 
truth boldly and with conviction, for all of us who have lived lives of quiet suffering and 
desperation. 

We do however believe unwaveringly, in the hope of how things can be made better. We 
believe that looking in earnest, through our eyes, at the complex lives of all Filipinos with 
disabilities, shall help us start the many, many conversations needed to start changing things for the better. We insist that we be part of the process, and that our voices be heard, from now on, 
and all the time. We claim our place equally with all other Filipino citizens in all aspects of life 
and community, because our humanity give us the right to do so. And we hold fast to the vision 
that all rights for all disabilities is a journey that we all need to walk together. 

We take the first step with this Parallel Report. Listen to us, see through our eyes, and give us space beside you. 


Philippine Coalition on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy 
Autism Society Philippines 
CALL Foundation of the Blind 
Deafblind Support Philippines 
Government Union for the Integration of Differently-Abled Employees 
Katipunan ng mga Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas 
Las Pinas Persons with Disability Federation 
Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines 
Life Haven 
National Organization for Visually Impaired Empowered Ladies 
New Vois Association 
Nova Foundation 
Parents Association of Visually impaired Children 
Philippine Alliance for Persons with Chronic Illness 
Philippine Association for Children With Developmental and Learning Disabilities 
Philippine Chamber for Massage Industry for Visually Impaired 
Philippine Deaf Resource Center 
Philippine Federation of the Deaf 
Punlaka 
Quezon City Federation of Persons With Disabilities 
Tahanang Walang Hagdanan 
Women with Disabilities Leap To Social and Economic Progress 

At a glance: some facts and figures of the 2013 Philippine Parallel Report on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The 2013 Philippine Parallel Report on the 

U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

At a glance: some facts and figures 

2011 study: twice as many women than men with disabilities do not complete any grade (or level of primary education) at all, specially in rural areas (Article 6, Women with disabilities) 

About 97% of children with disabilities still unreached by the public school system ... (Article 7, 
Children with disabilities) 

Of 213 cases from 2006-2012 involving deaf parties, only 24% have appointed court interpreters. Of 63 cases of unschooled deaf parties requiring deaf relay interpreters, 75% have no interpreters. (Article 9. Accessibility) 

News items of young children who die in fires because they are chained in their homes (Article 10, Right to life) 

Civil Code Chapter 2, Subsection 4: The deaf, blind, persons with psychosocial or speech impairment, who are not literate, are not allowed to be witnesses to the execution of a will (Article 12. Equal recognition before the law) 

Of 126 Supreme Court cases from 2008 to mid 2012 involving persons with disablities, 68% of 22 cases are complaints on sexual violence by girls with intellectual disabilities (Article 13. Access to justice) 

Involuntary detention and medication according to Rule 101 of the Philippine Rules of Court on 
Proceedings for the Hospitalization of Insane Persons ,,, (Article 14. Liberty and security of the 
person) 

Of 243 cases filed by deaf complainants, rape cases filed by deaf women and girls outnumber all other complaints in a ratio of 10:1 (Article 16. Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse) 

Use of forced medication and electroconvulsive therapy undermine the physical and mental integrity of a person …. increasing trend of cochlear implantation among deaf children in the country (Article 17. Protecting the integrity of the person) 

Children with disabilities in rural or remote areas are not registered for birth certificates (Article 18. Liberty of movement and nationality) 

No comprehensive State support services available for persons with disabilities with high support needs (Article 19. Living independently and being included in the community) 

Only 1.9% of Children with Special Needs are in inclusive settings according to 2004-2005 data from Department of Education (Article 24. Education) 

Non-implementation of Executive Order 417 or the Economic Independence policy which mandates procurement of 10% of government required services and goods from cooperatives and self help organizations of persons with disabilities (Article 27. Work and employment) 

20% disability discount benefits only persons with disabilities who have money to begin with (Article 28. Social Protection) 

In 2012, Philippine Mission to the United Nations in Geneva states reservation on certain disabilities in exercising their right to suffrage (Article 29. Participation in political and public life) 

Department of Education expresses resistance to recognition of Filipino Sign Language in legislative hearings (Article 30. Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport) 

Conflicting disability-related statistics from National Statistics Office, Departments of Education, Social Welfare and Development (Article 31. Statistics & data collection) 

Commission on Human Rights with very limited awareness on persons with disabilities (Article 33. National implementation and monitoring) 

Notes on budgeting and public finance 

0.07%: spending for persons with disabilities as fraction of the 2012 GDP 

0.002%: spending for education ... 

0.001%: spending for social welfare and development... 

0.007%: spending for national coordination... 

59% mainstream agency spending through national budget appropriations versus 40% spending by GOCCs 

Only 9% of persons with disabilities receive disability benefits / pensions from either SSS or GSIS, with strong bias towards those members who are / were working 

Only 16% of poor municipalities have SPED (elementary) Centers, while only 9% have SPED (high) Schools 


Philippine Coalition on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy 
Autism Society Philippines 
CALL Foundation of the Blind 
Deafblind Support Philippines 
Government Union for the Integration of Differently-Abled Employees 
Katipunan ng mga Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas 
Las Pinas Persons with Disability Federation 
Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines 
Life Haven 
National Organization for Visually Impaired Empowered Ladies 
New Vois Association 
Nova Foundation 
Parents Association of Visually impaired Children 
Philippine Alliance for Persons with Chronic Illness 
Philippine Association for Children With Developmental and Learning Disabilities 
Philippine Chamber for Massage Industry for Visually Impaired 
Philippine Deaf Resource Center 
Philippine Federation of the Deaf 
Punlaka 
Quezon City Federation of Persons With Disabilities 
Tahanang Walang Hagdanan 
Women with Disabilities Leap To Social and Economic Progress