Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng is batting for greater independence for persons with disabilities even as he laments that many PWDs today remain confined in their homes, greatly dependent on the help and generosity of their relatives.
“The best help we can give PWDs is to make them live with dignity; able to live by themselves, earn for their needs and contribute to nation-building,’’ said Tieng who has made the concerns of the PWDs his official and personal advocacy.
For his efforts, a Finland-based PWD and human rights group—Threshold Association (TA)—has bestowed on Tieng the title of “Champion” in pursuing the implementation of the provisions of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Among others, the CRPD calls for enactment of legislative measures to remove discrimination against PWDs and to promote, protect and ensure that PWDs enjoy full and equal human rights.
Lawyer Riku Virtanen, vice president of the Threshold Association—an independent living and human rights advocacy group—called on governments all over the world to formulate “programs and promote independence for PWDs.”
“We should help them curve their inner dignity to have an independent, productive and normal life,” Virtanen said during ceremonies bestowing Tieng the title champion for PWD concerns. Virtanen, a lawyer, is deaf and blind.
In receiving the title, Tieng said he decided to take on the concerns of the PWDs because PWDs are close to his heart and helping them is in line with Buhay’s mandate to take care of people “from womb to tomb.”
He asked people , especially commercial establishments and government offices, to provide employment or teach skills to PWDs to help them stand up on their feet.
Tieng has filed the following bills to promote the rights of the disabled: (1) House Bill No. 4217 which provides for copyright exemption for the visually-impaired, and (2) HB No. 6305 or ATM Visually-Impaired Friendly Act.
One of his proposed measures was signed into law, now RA 9504, which increases the personal exemption of taxpayers with PWD dependents from P8,000 to P25,000. –Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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