The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable, and rights-based development for persons with disabilities during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The conference, held on June 10 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, brought together Philippine officials led by DSWD Undersecretary Evelyn Aribon, alongside Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Executive Director Glenda Relova.
Speaking on behalf of the Philippine delegation, Aribon said the country recognizes both progress and continuing gaps in ensuring the full enjoyment of rights for persons with disabilities, stressing the need for sustained and coordinated government action.
She highlighted the government’s whole-of-nation and life-cycle approach to disability inclusion, citing the “CAREvan” initiative as a key program that brings developmental assessment, rehabilitation services, and family support directly to underserved communities.
Through CAREvan, multidisciplinary teams and trained community volunteers conduct free assessments for children with disabilities, who are then provided with individualized intervention and rehabilitation plans in coordination with local Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs).
Aribon said the initiative aims to improve long-term outcomes in health, education, and social inclusion by strengthening early intervention and community-based support systems.
She also noted that the Philippines continues to expand disability-inclusive systems across key sectors, including healthcare, education, employment, social protection, digital access, and disaster resilience.
The DSWD official emphasized that persons with disabilities should not only be consulted in policymaking but should also be empowered to actively participate in governance and public life.
The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to working with other UN member states to build societies where persons with disabilities can live with dignity, equal opportunity, and full participation.