Aspiring president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will push for the empowerment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) if elected in the position by providing them equal opportunity through legislation.
Marcos Jr. revealed his plan as he said "they are an important partner in nation-building."
"I believe we haven’t done enough for them. We have more than one million brothers and sisters who are PWDs and they and their families needed support. We want them to feel that they enjoy the same privileges and opportunities," he said in a statement Thursday.
Marcos said the country might have already had "laws and policies that are structured to protect and promote them," however, he feels "we could do more."
"As they say, those who have less in life must have more in law," he said.
The presidential aspirant said it is not only by allowing PWDs to have access to all infrastructure projects and financial plans that they become empowered, but by actually allowing them to join the labor force according to their skills and knowledge.
“We see them doing massages in the malls and other places, busking in the streets and doing other odd jobs, but they can do more than that,” he emphasized.
“By protecting and empowering them, we are also protecting and empowering their children, their parents, and their love-ones. Despite the laws that are already in place, we see the need to help them in terms of healthcare, education, transportation, and other special concerns,” he added.
Marcos Jr. said the current budget of the National Council for Disability Affairs is not enough to cover the task of developing programs and the delivery of necessary services to the PWDs.
"If I’m given the mandate, I will ask the local government units and business sector to help and do their share to help our PWDs by giving jobs and other means of livelihood. Some entrepreneurs are already practicing inclusivity in their workforce by hiring them, we still need more of these, let us lend a helping hand and make them feel that they are part of our dream na sama-samang bumangon para sa kinabukasan (to rise in the future)," he said.