On April 5, 2011, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 33 series of 2011 transferring the National Council on Disability Affairs from the Office of the President to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Executive Order 33 stipulates that since “DSWD is mandated to provide social protection and promote the rights and welfare of the poor, vulnerable, and the disadvantaged individuals, families and communities to contribute to poverty alleviation and empowerment through social welfare and development (SWD) policies, programs, projects and services implemented with or through local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs), other government organizations (GOs) and members of the civil society” it can provide the NCDA  the institutional support it needs to carry out its functions more effectively. Because of this Executive Order, The Secretary of the DSWD, now Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Council.