Livelihood explaratory field mission report livelihood Manilla, philippines duration

2.1.5 Governmental response in Philippines

Given this poverty situation, the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP 2004-2010) has cited the need for strategic measures and activities that will promote local economic growth as a number one priority.

The main strategic components of the Arroyo Administration as indicated in the MTPDP are:

1. Creation of 10 million jobs

2. Education for all

3. Balance the national budget in view of the country's debilitating deficit woes

4. Decentralization of progress and development across the country through the development of transportation networks like the roll-on, roll-off ferries and digital infrastructure

5. Provision of power and water supply to all barangays

6. Decongestion of Metro Manila by forming new cores of government and housing centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

7. Development of Clark and Subic as the logistics center in Asia

8. Automation of the electoral process

9. Peace agreements with rebel groups

10. "Closure of wounds" caused by divisions due to EDSA 1, 2 and 3
The KALAHI Program is one of President Arroyo’s priority programs, mainly undertaken through the process of raising the poor’s share in the country’s resources and their access to public services.
It has identified five strategies which actually intersect social, economic, and administrative development requirements of the poor. These are through:

1. Asset reform by redistributing land and credit resources to the poor based on existing government programs like agrarian reform, protection of fisherfolks, social housing for the urban poor, and programs for the indigenous peoples

2. Human development services through access to basic services like education, health, nutrition, shelter, water, sanitation and electrification, with the end in view of increasing the capacities of the poor

3. Employment and livelihood by creating job opportunities through agriculture and fisheries; apart from extending seed capital for small businesses

4. Participation in governance of basic sectors by providing them opportunities to be represented in local government bodies, policy making

bodies, and being able to recognize different ethno-linguistic groups

5. Social protection and security against violence by providing social safety nets through quick response basic services (i.e., food aid, employment, medical services, etc.) to the poor to reduce the risk and vulnerability brought about by economic shocks and natural and human disasters.
Three Objectives:

1. Empowered communities

2. Improved local governance

3. Reduced Poverty

Three Major Components :

1. Social Preparation, Capacity Building and Implementation Support. The Project ensures that communities are adequately skilled in participatory situation analysis, sub-project (SP) planning, procurement, finance, and other elements of project management.

2. Provision of Seed Funds for SPs. The Project provides funding in support of the CDD technology and has an open menu system for small-scale community projects. Disallowed activities are specified in a negative list.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation. The Project is designed to provide continuous learning and adjustment of its approach, and involves community, internal and independent (external NGO and media) monitoring.
Total Project Coverage

Provinces : 42

Municipalities: 177

Barangays: 4,270
More information can be found at http://kalahi.dswd.gov.ph/home

2.2 Disabilities general situation

2.2.1 Situation in Philippine

• 
  2003 – 2012 has been named the Philippine Decade of Persons with Disabilities (Presidential proclamation No 240).
  
• 
  The 2000 census registered 992,000 persons with disabilities (1.23% of the population). Only 580,000, however, were registered with the Department of Health. Most disability organisations and NGOs in the country note that government figures show significant underreporting.
  
• 
  Only 2% of persons with disabilities of school age are enrolled in formal educational institutions, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
  
• 
  From the Census : 46% of Pwds had completed at most elementary, 57% of working age persons with disabilities had a job or a business. Among economically active 30% are farmers. But from different stakeholder discussions, 70% to 80% of Pwds are unemployed.
  
• 
  The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) serves as the government’s coordinating body.
  
• 
  BIWAKO MIllenium Framework of Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier Free and Rights Based Society for persons with disabilities : regional policy in Asia and Pacific countries.
  

Appendixe 5 presents the results of the 2001 census on disability.

2.2.2 Current response to disabilities in the Philippines by the government

The Philippine government set up a coordination and monitoring body the : NCWD : National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, attached to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It has an inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary composition.

2.2.3 Disability legislation / livelihoods in Philippine

Appendixe 6 presents the different laws from the disability movement. The 4 following concerned the livelihood and employment sector for Pwds.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277 : An act providing for the rehabilitation, self development and self reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society and for other purposes.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1179 : An act to provide for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of the blind and other handicapped persons and their return to civil employment.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 417 : Directing the implementation of the economic independence program for persons with disabilities.
It is worth noting that the Philippine Government signed and ratified the different ILO Convention related to rehabilitation of PwDs (ie Convention 159).

They signed as well the UN convention on the Right of Pwds (28 February 2008).