EFFORTS to advance legislation protecting persons with disabilities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were reinforced during a consultation held alongside a disability sensitivity training for members of the Bangsamoro Committee on Disability Affairs (BCDA) from Dec. 17 to 20 in Davao City.
The Consultation and Advocacy on the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities was facilitated by the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) to strengthen awareness and understanding of disability rights and promote inclusive governance across the Bangsamoro region.
MSSD director general Atty. Mohammad Muktadir A. Estrella said the initiative underscored the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to ensuring that inclusivity is embedded in public service delivery.
“We are advancing a more inclusive Bangsamoro by deepening our understanding of the real situation of persons with disabilities. Sign language should be part of public service to ensure that every office can serve without communication barriers,” Estrella said.
“Beyond the passage of the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities, the real challenge lies in its faithful implementation, including providing opportunities for employees with disabilities. Inclusion must be a living reality in government, not just words written on paper,” he added.
A key highlight of the consultation was the presentation of the draft proposed Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities in BARMM by Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie. Minister Jajurie, MSSD minister and concurrent deputy floor leader of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament. She also personally led the dialogue with participants, fostering an open exchange of insights and recommendations.
Central to the discussion was the Government of the Day Bill, which seeks to institutionalize disability-inclusive governance in the region.
The measure emphasizes the responsibility of the current administration to ensure that the rights, welfare, and development of persons with disabilities are mainstreamed into policies, programs, and budgetary priorities of the Bangsamoro Government.
Participants were equipped with practical knowledge through lectures and discussions facilitated by expert resource persons in rehabilitation medicine and disability-inclusive development. The sessions highlighted the importance of collaboration, respect for diversity, and shared responsibility among government institutions, civil society organizations, and stakeholders in building a more inclusive, equitable, and responsive Bangsamoro society.
Jaymar C. Sali, regional focal person of the Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities Welfare Program (OPPWDWP), said the training provided BCDA members with a uniform lens on disability issues, noting that the council is composed of representatives from various BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies.
“Through this training, the BCDA will be better prepared to fulfill its role as the coordinating and monitoring body of the Bangsamoro Government for the welfare of persons with disabilities,” Sali said.
As a way forward, the MSSD will consolidate inputs from participating BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies on the proposed Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities. Similar activities are also being planned for other agencies and MSSD personnel to further expand knowledge and skills on disability sensitivity.
The MSSD also encouraged participants to integrate disability-inclusive practices into their respective mandates and programs to ensure that the rights, dignity, and participation of persons with disabilities are genuinely upheld at all levels of public service delivery.
