COTABATO CITY โ The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) took the lead in facilitating the 2nd Consultative Meeting on the draft bill Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (PWDs) yesterday, May 31, 2023. This event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), Ministry of Public Works (MPW), and BTA Office of MP Raissa H. Jajurie.
The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that all ministries are well-informed about their roles and responsibilities under the proposed Magna Carta for PWDs and to solidify their commitment towards the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of PWDs in the Bangsamoro region. Several essential sections of the draft bill were discussed in detail to improve the programs and services provided by each ministry for this marginalized sector.
Among the sections highlighted during the meeting were those that reinforce the rights of PWDs, such as accessibility to resources and services (Section 8 ), health provisions (Section 23), habilitation and rehabilitation support (Section 24), work and employment opportunities (Section 25), and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Committee on Disability Affairs (Section 40).
Deputy Minister Nur-Ainee T. Lim expressed her optimism about the consultative meeting, stating, “This consultative meeting with the representatives from each ministry will help us in improving what we already have in writing [the draft of the bill on Magna Carta for PWDs].”
MSSDโs Director General Atty. Mohammad Estrella emphasized the significance of the proposed bill, underscoring its potential impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities. He stated, “The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) is mandated under the law to care for all vulnerable sectors. But what is peculiar about our brothers and sisters with disability, is the fact that not only that they are vulnerable, almost always, they are also invisible. Our end goal is not just the passage of this bill because the passage of this bill is just the start. Our end goal is to have that day when we can wake up and look into the eyes of a little Mohammad or a little Fatimah with disability and tell them that they can be whoever and whatever they want to be regardless of their situation.”
The MSSD, recognizing its role as the primary agency responsible for developing programs and services for PWDs in BARMM, aims to address the existing challenges faced by this sector. Through this consultative meeting with the concerned ministries, it hopes to develop a robust set of policy recommendations that will contribute to the creation of responsive and sustainable measures for PWDs.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health’s Population Division, Attorney Mohammad Julkipli, and Sittie Norjana Saripada-Bayantol from MP Raissa H. Jajurie’s BTA Office, Chief Labor and Employment Officer Maynard S. Jamolod from MOLE, Salonga Sumampao, Director II from MPW, and Sandra B. Macacua, OPPWDWP regional focal person from MSSD were all present, adding their expertise and perspectives to the discussions.
๐๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐!
FB: @MSSDBangsamoro
IG: @mssdbangsamoro
Twitter: @MSSDBangsamoro
#MSSD #BARMM
#UpliftingBangsamorolives
#MSSDAtYourService
