Guanzon eager to file priority bills; says Pinoys with HIV-AIDS should get PWD card


Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon is raring to get job done in her new role as a party-list congresswoman.

Photo from Rowena Guanzon's Twitter)


This, as the incoming P3PWD Party-list representative is planning to file not one, not two, but at least 10 priority bills next month.

"We're going to file at least 10 priority bills on the day of the SONA or before the SONA," Guanzon told ANC in an interview Friday, June 24.

Guazon was referring to July 25, when President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivers his first ever State of the Nation Address (SONA).

She said the group's priority measures will be based on the results of a consultation with persons with disabilities (PWDs) and PWD advocates, stressing that P3PWD Party-list is "a genuine, consultative, marginalized sector".

"From that consultation, we will know our priority bills and we will also form a consultative council which will be from different sectors or children with special needs children. Persons with diseases, illnesses, lupus, leukemia, HIV, HIV-AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) by the way, they are some LGUs (local government units) not issuing PWD card," she noted.

Guanzon argued that having HIV is a "grave and chronic illness" that should warrant the issuance of PWD cards.

"That's why I want also to to appeal to the League of Cities and League of Municipalities to instruct their city social, welfare officers to issue PWD card(s), some persons with HIV-AIDS," she said.

Guanzon took her oath as party-list representative in the upcoming 19th Congress on Thursday.