June 19, 2024 - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has signed a proclamation designating July 17th to 23rd as the annual "National Disability Rights Week." This move reinforces the Philippines' commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The proclamation tasks the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), with leading the week's activities. The NCDA will be responsible for coordinating, supervising, and planning programs to celebrate the occasion.
All government agencies, including state universities and colleges, are mandated to participate in the observance. Local governments, NGOs, and the private sector are also encouraged to join the celebration.
President Marcos emphasized the Philippines' adherence to the UNCRPD's principles, which promote equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. He highlighted the need to adopt a rights-based approach during "National Disability Rights Week," replacing the previously observed "National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week."
Proclamation No. 1870 (s. 1979), which established the third week of July as "NDPR Week," and Proclamation No. 361 (s. 2000), which designated July 23rd as the culmination point of "NDPR Week" coinciding with Apolinario Mabini's birthday, have been repealed by Proclamation No. 597. This move streamlines the observance and aligns it with the UNCRPD's goals.