Transcript of Talk by Emerito Rojas
Go Back Delivered by:
Engr. Emerito Rojas
Executive Director
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA)
Philippines
June 18, 2021
The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) is the national government agency mandated to formulate policies and coordinate the activities of all agencies concerning disability issues and concerns. NCDA also monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the Philippines.
Disability Data Situation
In the Philippines, the census of population and housing is conducted every 10 years and in 2010, the recorded number of persons with disabilities is 1.44 million or 1.57% of the 92.1 million population.1
In 2016, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted a National Disability Prevalence Survey or Model Functioning Survey (NDPS/MFS)2 adopting the Model Disability Survey (MDS) developed by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. The MDS is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).
The survey resulted in 12% severe disability, 47% moderate disability, and 23% mild disability while 19% experienced no disability. Moreover, almost a third of the population age 60 and older experienced severe disability.
The PSA used the said MDS in the 2020 census of population to validate the earlier results generated from the 2016 survey. Results are not yet released.
Meanwhile, the data captured by the DOH coming from the issuance of disability identification cards represent only 26% or 367,640 as of 28 May 2021 out of the total number of persons with disabilities in 2010. NCDA’s monitoring of disability ID card issuance in the National Capital Region represents 2% of the region’s population in 2015.
This data is a reflection of the WHO estimates in 2011 that about 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning.3
Challenges
Disability definition in the Philippines is anchored on the presence of impairment as defined by the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities4 while disability based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is based on experience.5 In a lifetime, all people will experience a decline in health conditions and thereby will experience some form of disability one way or another. It is a universal human experience in a life continuum.
Therefore, the differences in figures as to the total number of persons with disabilities are results of differences in the operational definition of disability.
The Philippines recognizes the importance of identifying functional limitations of people based on a set of criteria such as the Washington Group Set of Questions, however, we cannot undermine the importance of identifying the prevalence of disability based on impairments as a result of health conditions, by accidents and those recognized by law as having such disabilities. This is primarily the basis for developing disability-appropriate programs and services such as those needing assistive devices and technologies, captioning services, sign language interpretation, accessible websites and accessible learning materials, and the likes.
We also recognize the need to harmonize these definitions so that they will be complementary with each other, highlighting the scope of functional limitations in the country and at the same time giving emphasis on the number of various classifications and categories of disabilities.
The Philippines is fully committed to addressing issues and gaps in developing a sustainable disability data collection mechanism by setting up data system infrastructure that would systematically collect disability data as a result of programs and services at the local government units up to the regional and national level.
Conclusion
Disability is a progressive and evolving concept as recognized by the CRPD wherein people with impairments interact with various barriers in the society, such as the environment and attitudes of people that hinder their effective participation. Hence, the existing definition of how we look at disability would eventually adapt to the changing times and requirements to realize the rights of persons with disabilities in general. However, the fact remains that we need to deal with impairments and barriers that create disabling conditions. Our data must be based on evidence and complemented by estimates gathered from surveys. We should be able to account for each persons with disabilities, and provide the necessary services and programs we deserve to realize the mantra of “no one is left behind”.
Finally, again for program and services implementation, we may still need to identify the impairment to directly address the specific needs of persons with disabilities. However, we fully support the creation of a comparable databy harmonizing all data in line with the directions set of the United Nations.
I thank the organizers for giving the Philippines the opportunity to share our data gathering experience.
[1] Persons with Disability in the Philippines (Results from the 2010 Census), 
[2] Disability Spares No One: A New Perspective, 
[3] World Report on Disability 2011,
[4] Republic Act No. 7277. An Act Providing for The Rehabilitation, Self-Development and Self-Reliance of Disabled
Persons and Their Integration into the Mainstream of Society and for Other Purposes.
[5] Towards a Common Language for Functioning, Disability and Health ICF, 