BAGUIO City Councilor Art Allad-iw is asking all banks operating in this city to accommodate without discrimination the differently abled, particularly the visually impaired in the opening of bank accounts.
Stemming from a complaint by an organization dedicated to the visually impaired, Allad-iw relayed the experience of Good Care Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a group of visually-impaired persons engaged in massage service, when they tried to open bank accounts but they were denied because they used thumb mark, instead of written signature.
The city official said almost all collecting government offices like Pag-ibig, PhilHealth, SSS, and among others are implementing electronic payment and collection system in the remittance of premium contributions and/or employees’ loan.
“According to the cooperative, the Rural Banks accommodate the opening of bank accounts of their visually impaired members, unfortunately, these Rural Banks are not accredited by the collecting government offices,” Allad-iw said.
The alderman said in as much as these visually-impaired persons wanted to comply with government requirements on electronic remittances, they cannot do so because of the limited banks accommodating them. In addition, these persons wish to open their bank accounts in banks of their own choice like the other members of society do.
Allad-iw backed his measure with provisions of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which says the state shall support to the improvement of the total well-being of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society and disabled persons have the same rights as other people to take their place in society. They should be able to live freely and as independently as possible. This must be the concern of everyone – the family, community and all government and nongovernment organizations.