MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
PROCLAMATION NO.
588
DECLARING THE
PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 16 TO 22, 2004 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER AS
CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS AND PROTECTION WEEK
WHEREAS,
the determination for the total development of the sector of persons
with disabilities is a state policy enshrined in the 1987 Philippine
Constitution and reaffirmed by various legislations, such as the
Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (R.A. 7277), the Accessibility Law
(B.P. 344) and other executive issuances;
WHEREAS,
in dealing justly and in establishing a barrier-free environment for
persons with disabilities nationwide, the government and its
instrumentalities, both national and local, take cognizance of the
“RIGHTS-BASED” principle as set forth in the Biwako Millennium
Framework (BMF) for Actions Towards an Inclusive Barrier-Free and
Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the
Pacific which was adopted on October 25-28, 2002 by the United
Nations-Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP);
WHEREAS,
in order for the Philippine government to conform with the regional
mandate prescribed by the UN-ESCAP, Proclamation No. 240 dated
August 21, 2002, was issued “Declaring the Period from Year 2003 to
the Year 2012 as the Philippine Decade of Persons with
Disabilities”;
WHEREAS,
the causes of disabilities can be prevented, and in cases when such
disabilities exist, early detection and prompt and appropriate
intervention can be performed by raising the state of awareness and
concerns of the public;
WHEREAS,
the active and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities
in all levels of policy-making, planning, monitoring and evaluation
are essential factors in equalization of the opportunities for
persons with disabilities;
WHEREAS,
by virtue of various executive issuances and proclamations focusing
on particular disability groups like the White Cane Safety Day
(August 1) for the visually impaired, the Down Syndrome
Consciousness Month (February) for the down syndrome, the Deaf
Awareness Week (The Third Week of November) for the hearing
impaired, etc. are observed and participated in by such disability
groups which contribute immensely to public awareness.
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO,
President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the period from
September 16 to 22, 2004 and every year thereafter as Cerebral Palsy
Awareness and Protection (CPAP) Week.
The National
Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, in partnership with the
Cerebral Palsied Association of the Philippines, Inc. and other
concerned organizations, is hereby directed to ensure the
appropriate observance of the Cerebral Palsy Awareness and
Protection Week by formulating a Comprehensive National Plan of
Action to fulfill the objectives of this Proclamation.
All heads of
Departments, Chiefs of Bureaus, Offices, Agencies and
Instrumentalities of the National Government, including officials of
the local Governments, are hereby instructed to implement plans,
programs and activities geared towards the development of persons
with cerebral palsy based on the National Plan of Action for Persons
with Disabilities.
The funds
necessary to carry out the provisions of this proclamation shall be
sourced out from the one percent (1%) of each agency’s total budget
for persons with disabilities provided for in the yearly General
Appropriations Act or from other funds to support the implementation
of the National Plan of Action for Persons with Disabilities.
Non-government
organizations and self-help groups among persons with cerebral palsy
and other form of disabilities, as well as other organizations are
hereby enjoined to take full cognizance of the proclamation and to
fully cooperate in the attainment of its goal and activities.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF,
I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of
the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE
in the City of Manila, this 25th day of March, in the year of Our
Lord, Two Thousand and Four.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
By
the President:
(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary
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