Senator Bam Aquino has filed Senate Bill No. 2386 or the National Disability Support Act, which seeks to provide a P2,000 monthly disability support allowance to qualified persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help cover disability-related expenses and basic needs.
Under the proposed measure, the stipend would be disbursed through a National Disability Support Allowance Program, with periodic adjustments factored in to protect the payout’s value against inflation over time.
“Persons with disabilities face additional and often invisible expenses in their daily lives, including transportation, healthcare, personal assistance, and assistive devices. These are essential not only for survival, but for participation in school, work, and community life. When these expenses are not addressed, opportunities are limited, poverty is deepened and exclusion persists,” Aquino said.
“This allowance is designed to complement existing social protection programs and empower persons with disabilities to live more independently, pursue education and employment and participate more actively in society,” he added.
The bill outlines a structured, multi-phase rollout for the Disability Support Allowance Program. During the first three years of implementation, priority beneficiaries will include children with disabilities and adults with significant disabilities. Coverage will then expand in the succeeding three years to include individuals with moderate disabilities who incur disability-related costs. Ultimately, the program aims to cover all eligible PWDs nationwide who face extra disability-related expenses.
“By strengthening income support, this measure helps ensure that persons with disabilities are not only supported, but empowered to live independently and participate fully in society,” Aquino stressed adding that empowering PWDs will contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable nation.
To ensure fair implementation, the measure mandates the creation of a Disability and Needs Assessment System (DNAS). This evaluation system will determine eligibility based on an individual’s functional limitations, support needs, and barriers to participation, rather than relying strictly on income criteria.
Additionally, the legislation proposes establishing a Disability Management Information System (DMIS) linked directly to existing national databases including the National ID System, the Philippine Persons with Disabilities Registry, PhilHealth, and community-based monitoring systems. The system aims to refine disability data, strengthen policymaking, enhance service delivery, and facilitate direct benefit payments to qualified beneficiaries.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will administer the program with support from a Multi-Stakeholder Committee led by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).
“In empowering persons with disabilities, we are not only addressing inequality, but also unlocking potential, strengthening communities and building a more inclusive and equitable Philippines,” Aquino said.