DILG to LGUs: Prioritize PWDs in distribution of relief goods

April 19, 2020 Provincial

With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is directing local government units (LGUs) to prioritize persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the distribution of relief goods.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that PWDs even before the ECQ are marginalized and are all the more in need to be given attention to amid the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “The ECQ is more challenging to vulnerable groups like PWDs. The DILG urges LGUs to prioritize PWDs in distributing food packs, medicine, and vitamins,” he said.
In Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-066, provincial governors are enjoined to ensure that their city and municipal mayors shall include PWDs in their list of beneficiaries and indicate the recipients’ disability.
The enlistment is to be done by barangay workers.
Barangay captains will then submit their lists to their mayors who shall then submit to governors. The latter will submit the data to the DILG for consolidation of reports.
Further, all LGUs, particularly barangays, shall ensure that PWDs are able to access adequate food and take into consideration their nutritional requirement as provided by law. They should also allow the use of barangay vehicle for PWDs under emergency situation. Municipal and City Governments shall support the barangay immediately during such urgent situation should the barangay request for support.
“Pagbabayanihan ang makakaahon sa atin mula sa krisis na dulot ng Covid-19. Provincial, city, and municipal governments together with their barangays can protect their constituents from this pandemic by cooperating with each other. Tigil-politika muna, buhay ng mamamayan muna,” Año said.
The MC was issued by the DILG following reports received by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) from the PWD sector about their growing concerns amidst the Covid-19 situation in the country. “PWDs may find it harder to protect themselves against Covid-19. Thus, I am prodding all local chief executives to provide for the welfare of PWDs for them to cope up with the impact of the ECQ to their lives considering that they have special needs,” he said.
The DILG reminded LGUs to give more consideration to children with disability, pregnant women with disability, and senior citizens with disability.
PR