Malacanang Palace

Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 597

DECLARING THE PERIOD OF 17 TO 23 JULY OF EVERY YEAR AS “NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS WEEK”

WHEREAS, Section 11, Article II of the Constitution declares it a policy of the State to value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 1870 (s. 1979) declared the third week of July of every year as the “National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week” to stimulate public awareness of the problems of disability, encourage every citizen to take active responsibility in the uplifting of the economic and social conditions of the disabled members of our society, and highlight the nation’s efforts towards disability prevention and rehabilitation;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 361 (s. 2000) declared July 23 of every year as the culmination of the NDPR Week, in commemoration of the date of birth of the Sublime Paralytic, Apolinario Mabini;

WHEREAS, having ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the country has been committed to its purpose to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity;

WHEREAS, there is a need to amend Proclamation Nos. 1870 and 361 to be consistent with the purpose of the UNCRPD and to promote a rights-based approach on the celebration; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all the executive departments, bureaus and offices and the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare the period of 17 to 23 July of every year as “National Disability Rights Week.”

For this purpose, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), is hereby directed to lead, coordinate, and supervise the observance of the National Disability Rights Week, and identify the programs, activities and projects for the celebration thereof.

All agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, are hereby directed, and all local government units, non-government organizations, as well as the private sector, are hereby encouraged, to render the necessary support and assistance to DSWD and NCDA, and to actively participate in the observance of the National Disability Rights Week.

Proclamation Nos. 1870 (s. 1979) and 361 (s. 2000) are hereby repealed. All other issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Proclamation, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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 13th day of year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.

By the President:

Download the PFD File here. Proclamation No. 597