WHEREAS, the national government is also cognizant of the limitations of the existing system for delivery of services to the handicapped in this country and of the pressing need for the creation and development of new facilities to extend the range of rehabilitation services, as well as the expansion of existing ones to meet actual needs;
WHEREAS, there is an increasing awareness by the citizenry of the national problem of disability and of their joint responsibility with the government to be involved in the national effort to seek solutions to the problems;
WHEREAS, the national leadership notes, with great concern, that in the pursuit of this responsibility, there has been a proliferation of activities and programs for the welfare of the handicapped by government agencies and private organizations and that for lack of central direction and coordination, there is widespread overlapping and duplication of efforts, thereby resulting in the wastage of scarce resources and professional services and impairing the achievement of definite goals;
WHEREAS, the above conditions and the lack of organized and comprehensive, information on the nature and extent of the national problem of disability, render it imperative for the national leadership to create a central authority that will direct, coordinate and integrate the planning, management and implementation of all activities, national and local, public and private, pertaining to the welfare of the handicapped, in a manner which will ensure maximum and efficient utilization of human and natural resources for the attainment of this national goal, on the basis of comprehensive data and information.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy.—The Government of the Republic of the Philippines hereby declares its full acceptance and support for the United Nations Economic and Social Council Resolution of May 6, 1975, particularly the following portion:
"Believing that the problem of disability is an appreciable component of the economic and social condition of every country and, consequently, that programs to prevent disability and to rehabilitate the disabled are an essential part of comprehensive plans for economic and social development, responsibility for which must be assumed by Governments working, as appropriate, with non-governmental organization."
SEC. 2. Creation of the National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons.—There is hereby created a National Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "Commission", which shall be under the supervision and control of the Office of the President of the Philippines.
SEC. 3. Objectives of the Commission.—The Commission shall have the following objectives:
SEC. 4. Powers and Functions of the Council.
SEC. 5. Composition of the Commission. All functions and powers of the Commission shall be vested in a Board of Commissioners, hereinafter referred to as the "Board" which shall be composed of a chairman who shall be appointed by the President and the following as members:
SEC. 6. Duties of the Chairman.—The Chairman shall perform the following duties:
SEC. 7. The Secretariat.—The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Disabled, Inc. shall serve as the Secretariat for the Commission and will provide the machinery to coordinate policy functions, implementation of programs and the organization of such services as may be required by the Board in the exercise of its functions.
The Secretariat shall be headed by the Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Disabled, Inc., who will also act as Action Officer and Secretary for the Commission.
PFRD will be reimbursed for the actual cost of services performed or the Commission, upon certification by the PFRD President and approval of the Chairman.
SEC. 8. Meetings.—The Board shall meet every month or oftener at the call of the Chairman.
Five (5) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. However, when a decision is made by such a quorum, it must carry the unanimous vote of all five members to be valid.
Members of the Board shall receive no compensation, but shall be entitled to travelling, representation and other allowances.
SEC. 9. Appropriations.—There is hereby appropriated the sum of one million five hundred thousand pesos out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated as initial operating funds of the Commission. Thereafter, such amounts as shall be needed for the continued operation of the Commission shall be regularly included in subsequent annual general appropriation acts.
SEC. 10. Donations.—The Commission shall be authorized to receive grants, donations, contributions or gifts in whatever form and from whatever sources, which will then be administered, obligated or disbursed in accordance with the terms thereof, or, in the absence of such terms, in such manner as the Board may determine. All such grants, donations, contributions or gifts to the Commission shall be exempt from customs duties, income and gift taxes and shall be deductible in full end shall not be included for purposes of computing the maximum deductible under Section 30, paragraph of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
SEC. 11. Definition of Terms.—The following terms as used in this decree shall have the meanings indicated below:
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause.—All laws and executive orders, or parts thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 13. Effectivity.—This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA Presidential Assistant