Disability

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Overview

The landscape of disability in the Philippines is complex and has evolved significantly over the past decade. Disabilities affect a notable portion of the population, and their implications stretch across various social, economic, and educational domains. According to the World Health Organization1, more than 700 million people in Asia and the Pacific lived with some form of disability (2021) or approximately 16 per cent of the population. Understanding the prevalence and nature of disabilities, as well as the challenges faced by individuals who have them, is critical for crafting effective policies and interventions.

Data on Disability

The section below highlights key statistics and trends regarding disability in the Philippines, providing insights into prevalence, demographics, and the impact on various aspects of life.

  • 2020 Census Update: Recent data from the 2020 Census showed a significant increase, with 8.68% of the population over five years old identified as having at least one functional difficulty, totaling 8,469,426 individuals out of 97,600,336. This is below the global estimated disability prevalence of 15 per cent of a population. [2]
  • Disability in Children: The prevalence of disability among children varies by age group, with 1.1% in ages 5-9, 1.2% in ages 10-14, and 1.7% in ages 15-19. These figures suggest that disability rates are generally lower in younger children compared to older age groups.
  • 2010 Census Findings: In 2010, 1.57% of the Philippine population was recorded as having a disability.

 

  • Disability data are disaggregated by sex in Philippines.  Females account for 55.6 per cent of the population of persons with disabilities over 5 years of age, and males 44.4 per cent.
  • The Washington Group Questions [3] are used in national data generation in Philippines. The short set of questions were used in the 2016 National Disability Prevalence Survey (NDPS) [4]i  and the 2020 Census of Population and Housing.  The WG-UNICEF child functioning module (CFM) is not yet in use.
  • Health and development: 77 per cent of children aged 24-59 months are developmentally on track for their age in terms of health, learning and psychosocial well-being.  Children are considered to be developmentally on track if they have achieved the minimum number of milestones expected for their age group.  66 per cent of children in the lowest wealth quintile are developmentally on track, compared to 84% of children in the highest quintile. [5]
     
  • Poverty: There is a strong positive correlation with the level of consumption expenditure and a negative impact of disability, confirming the presence of disability extra costs.
     
  • Social protection: Children with functional limitations do not always receive the subsidies to which they are entitled – this is especially true for the poorest households. Only one in five children with disabilities in Philippines has a disability identification card.  Households with a disability card spend a share of their budget almost three times more than those of other households. Children with functional limitations without a disability card are most at risk of neglect. 
     
  • Education: 1.3 per cent of the population aged 3-30 years old were not attending school due to disability. Higher rates were estimated among children aged 5-11 years at 8.2 per cent; 12-15 years at 9.8 per cent; and 16-17 years at 4.6 per cent. [6i]

Legislation and Policy Analysis

The Philippines ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on April 15, 2008. Here are the key pieces of legislation and policies supporting disability rights and inclusion in the country:

The Philippines passed Republic Act No. 9442 in 2007, amending Republic Act No. 7277, also known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.”

Additionally, the Philippines enacted the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054), the Bangsamoro Administrative Code (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 13), and the Bangsamoro Disability Welfare Act of 2021 (Bill 617) for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Specific provisions for children are made in numerous areas, including in the National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) 2017-2022, which references programming for children with disabilities. It states, “it is imperative to design and pursue a systematic targeting of marginalized families and children at-risk of all forms of abuse and exploitation and children left behind, particularly children with disabilities…”.

Early Childhood Services:

  • Act 10410 and Republic Act 11148 (First 1000 Days Law) cover reasonable accommodation, early identification, prevention, referral, and intervention for children with special needs from age zero to four years. This includes access to health and nutrition services such as dietary supplementation, complementary food, other healthy food products and commodities, assessment and referral for developmental delays and other disabilities for early prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Special Education:

Inclusive Education:

Child Protection:

Social Protection:

Nutrition:

  • The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028 states: “The implementation of PPAN aims to reduce health and nutrition inequalities and promote social justice. Regardless of gender, PPAN targets the most vulnerable populations including women, children, persons with disabilities, older adults, low-income households, and GIDAs.”

 

The constitution of the Philippines makes several provisions for persons with disabilities, including:

  • The right to assemble
  • The right to organize
  • The right to suffrage
  • The right to education
  • The right to health

The country has taken several steps to implement national disability legislation. While there are numerous laws relating to persons with disabilities, it is acknowledged that there is a gap between policy and implementation.

  • The state has endorsed the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2013–2022) and was the first country in the western Pacific region to implement the World Health Organization Model Disability Survey.
  • The enactment of the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act of 2018 provides legal interpreting services for the deaf in all public hearings, proceedings, and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and other tribunals.
  • The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Women and Children’s Protection Centre (WCPC) developed a training module in 2019 for officers and staff on access to justice for women and girls with disabilities to ensure the promotion and protection of their rights.
  • The BARMM administration has proposed to set up an office for persons with disabilities.

There are no specific provisions for women and girls in the national disability law (RA 9442), but the BARMM Acts do make specific provisions for women and girls.

The Philippines is the first country in the western Pacific region to implement the World Health Organization Model Disability Survey.

Addressing Barriers for Children with Disabilities

As the Philippines continues to progress on various fronts, children with disabilities remain one of the most marginalized groups in society. Despite legislative advances and commitments to international conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities, significant challenges persist that hamper the full realization of these children's rights. Below are recommendations for a path forward to build a more inclusive society for all children.

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The Philippines' approach to disability is fragmented, with varying definitions and understandings across different laws and policies. This inconsistency creates a disjointed support system for children with disabilities, leading to potential exclusion from essential services.

The Philippines' approach to disability is fragmented, with varying definitions and understandings across different laws and policies. This inconsistency creates a disjointed support system for children with disabilities, leading to potential exclusion from essential services.

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Effective early detection systems are crucial to ensure that children with disabilities can benefit from early interventions. However, current systems in the Philippines are underdeveloped, leading to missed opportunities for these children to reach their full potential.

Effective early detection systems are crucial to ensure that children with disabilities can benefit from early interventions. However, current systems in the Philippines are underdeveloped, leading to missed opportunities for these children to reach their full potential.

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Inclusive education policies exist, but their implementation is often ineffective, leaving many children with disabilities without access to quality education. The gap between policy and practice needs to be bridged to provide equitable educational opportunities.

Inclusive education policies exist, but their implementation is often ineffective, leaving many children with disabilities without access to quality education. The gap between policy and practice needs to be bridged to provide equitable educational opportunities.

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Violence and abuse against children with disabilities are particularly troubling issues in the Philippines. These children often face higher risks of exploitation and abuse, and there is an urgent need to strengthen the mechanisms to protect them and provide them with justice and support.

Violence and abuse against children with disabilities are particularly troubling issues in the Philippines. These children often face higher risks of exploitation and abuse, and there is an urgent need to strengthen the mechanisms to protect them and provide them with justice and support.

 

1 WHO, Global report on health equity for persons with disabili9es (United Na9ons publica9on, 2022)
[2] WHO & World Bank Group. (2011).  World Report on Disability. [Online]. [Accessed on 11th July 2023]. World Report on Disability (who.int)
[3] The Washington Group Questions are a standard set of universally applicable questions to identify functional ability when generating big data, such as during a national census. There are several versions of the questions for use in different contexts, the most commonly used being the Washington Group Short Set of 6 questions. See The Washington Group on Disability Statistics - Home (washingtongroup-disability.com)
[5] Philippines Statistics Authority. (2016). National Disability Prevalence Survey. [Online]. National Disability Prevalence Survey/Model Functioning Survey 2016 (psa.gov.ph)[ Philippines Statistics Authority. (2022). National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).  [Online]. 
National Demographic and Health Survey | Philippine Statistics Authority | Republic of the Philippines (psa.gov.ph)
[6i] Philippine Statistics Authority (2019) Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey

 

 

Related Child Rights Sub-Dimensions

Nutrition in Early Childhood
Basic Education
Learning Skills, Participation and Engagement
Climate Change, Disaster Risks and Environmental Degradation
Inclusive Social Protection
Child and Adolescent Engagement and Freedom of Expression