Memorandum Circular No.

2010 103 Establishment of Persons with Disability

Affairs Office (PDAO) in Every Province, City and Municipality Pursuant to RA
10070
Republic of the Philippines
Department of the Interior and Local Government
A. Francisco Gold Condominium II, EDSA cor. Mapagmahal St.
Pinyahan, Quezon City
September 23, 2010
MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
NO. 2010 103
TO : PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, DILG REGIONAL
DIRECTORS AND OTHERS CONCERNED
SUBJECT : ESTABLISHMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY AFFAIRS OFFICE
(PDAO) IN EVERY PROVINCE, CITY AND MUNICIPALITY PURSUANT TO RA 10070

1.0 LEGAL BASES:
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10070 an Act Establishing an Institutional
Mechanism to ensure the Implementation of Programs and Services for Persons with
Disabilities in every Province, City and Municipality, Amending Section 40 of Republic
Act No. 7277, Otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as
Amended, and for Other Purposes, a Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) shall
be organized and established in every province, city and municipality.

In consideration of budget restraints, local chief executives of fourth (4th), and
fifth (5th) and sixth (6th) class municipalities may, in lieu of the creation of PDAO,
designate a focal person who shall perform the functions of the PDAO. Priority in
appointment should be given to a PWD with experience in providing services to PWDs.
The establishment of a PDAO or the DESIGNATION of a focal person, as the case may
be, should be done in consultation and coordination with the National Council on
Disability Affairs (NCDA), NGOs and POs.

2.0 PURPOSE:
This Circular is issued to provide guidelines on the establishment of Person with
Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) and designation of PWD Affairs Officers or Focal
Person.

3.0 QUALIFICATIONS:
A PWD Affairs Officer or Focal Person shall e designated by the Local Chief
Executive, with the following qualifications:
1) A Filipino citizen and resident of the city or municipality for at least one (1) year;
2) A registered voter of the concerned city or municipality
3) Able to read and write and
4) Must be a bonafide member and duly accredited PWD organization with a track
record of at least three (3) years.


The nominees for the Head of PDAO or Focal Persons shall be chosen or
recommended in a general assembly by and among the organizations of PWDs in the
province, city or municipality. The list of nominees shall be submitted to the Sanggunian
Panlalawigan, Sanggunian Panlungsod or Sangguniang Baya, which shall choose the
three (3) nominees to be forwarded to the Office of the Local Chief Executive.

4.0 TERM OF OFFICE OF THE PDAO
The Head of PDAO of Focal Person shall have a term of Office of three (3) years
and shall be reappointed for another term based on the Sanggunian selection process.
In case of death, the remaining term shall be served by the new appointee who has
undergone the selection process.

5.0 FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE PDAO or Focal Person:
1) Formulate and implement policies, plans and programs for the promotion of the
welfare of the PWDs in coordination with concerned national and local
government agencies;
2) Coordinate the implementation of the provisions of RA 10070, Batas Pambansa
Blg. 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law, and other relevant laws at
the local level;
3) Represent PWDs in meeting of the local development councils and other special
bodies;
4) Recommend and enjoin the participation of Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs) and Peoples Organization (POs) in the implementation of all
disability related laws and policies;
5) Gather and compile relevant data on PWDs in their localities;
6) Disseminate information including, but not limited to, programs and activities for
PWDs, statistics on PWDs, including children with disability, and training and
employment opportunities for PWDs;
7) Submit reports to the office of the local chief executive on the implementation of
program and services for the promotion of the welfare of PWDs in their
respective areas of jurisdiction;
8) Ensure that policies, plans and programs for the promotion of the welfare of
PWDs are funded by both the national and local government;
9) Monitor fundraising activities being conducted for the benefits of PWDs; and
10) Seek donations in cash or in kind from local or foreign donors to implement an
approved work plan for PWDs, in accordance with existing laws and regulations;
and perform such other functions as may be necessary for the promotion and
protection of the welfare of the PWDs.

6.0 PDAO FUNDING:
Section 4 of RA 10070 mandates that LGUs shall ensure that the necessary fund
from any available local revenues is allocated for the implementation of PDAO activities
for the benefit of PWDs in their jurisdictions. For the succeeding years of
implementation, PDAO funding shall be included in the LGUs Annual Plans and Budget.

7.0 SUPERVISION OVER PDAO OR FOCAL PERSON
The PDAO or Focal Person shall be lodged under the Office of the Local Chief
Executive. As such the LCE shall exercise supervision over the PDAO operations and
activities.

8.0 DISSEMINATION OF THIS CIRCULAR
ALL DILG Regional Directors are hereby directed to cause the immediate and
widest dissemination of the Circular to all local government units, provide assistance
whenever necessary, monitor compliance thereto, and submit annual report to the
Office of Undersecretary for Local Government through the Bureau of Local
Government Development.

9.0 EFFECTIVITY:
This Circular shall take effect immediately

ORIGINAL SIGNED
JESSE M. ROBREDO
Secretary






















Suggested Provisions
SECTION . Creation of Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO). There is
hereby created under this Ordinance the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO)
in the City of Tacloban, under the Office of the City Mayor.
The PDAO shall be headed by a Person with Disability (PWD) Affairs Officer who
shall be designated by the Local Chief Executive from a list of three (3) nominees
forwarded by the Sangguniang Panlungsod based on a list of nominees chosen in a
general assembly by and among the organizations of the PWDs in the City. He shall
receive a minimum compensation corresponding to Salary Grade __.
The City Mayor shall exercise supervision and control over PDAO. He is hereby
empowered to design the PDAO organizational/ functional structure in consultation with
the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), the TAPDCO, and concerned NGOs;
and he may appoint such number of PDAO personnel as are necessary to carry out the
functions and objectives of PDAO, subject to fund limitation. For reasons of economy
and expediency, interim appointments may be resorted to, and may be drawn from any
department or office now existing within City Hall.

SECTION . Office Location. The PDAO herein created shall be located preferably
within the City Hall compound, in any of its buildings or in a new building that may be
constructed in the future. For purposes of greater accessibility and convenience
to PWDs, it can also be located in the downtown Tacloban, when office space is
available.
SECTION . The Role of the Barangays. It shall be the responsibility of the
Sangguniang Barangays, through their respective Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), to
assist the PDAO in making a comprehensive listing and profile of all Person with
Disabilities (PWDs) in their respective barangays, including its regular updating.
SECTION . The Role of the Private Sector. The Private Sector the nongovernment
organizations (NGOs), the private institutions and individuals, the business community,
and the peoples organizations (POs) are hereby encouraged to help and support the
plans and objectives of PDAO.
Private Sector helping any PWD association, or any of its members,
shall coordinate with and take first cognizance of PDAO for records and other purposes.
SECTION . Budgetary and Financial Requirement.
As mandated in the Joint Circular No. 2003-1 of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the
PDAO budget may be taken from the one percent (1%) of the government agency
budget for programs/projects related to Senior Citizen and the Disabled.
Salaries and wages of personnel, and maintenance and other
operating expenses (MOOE) for PDAO shall be drawn from such Fund. The City
Government shall ensure that the necessary fund is allocated for the implementation
of this Ordinance for the benefit of PWDs in the City of Tacloban.