THE 20th Davao City Council has approved on third and final reading the Comprehensive Persons with Disability Rights, Privileges, and Protection Ordinance of Davao City, aiming to strengthen the protection of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and enforce their rights across the city.
Proposed by Third District Councilor Lorenzo Benjamin D. Villafuerte, the ordinance was passed during the council’s regular session on Tuesday, June 18, 2025.
One of its key provisions penalizes the use of fake PWD IDs. Offenders will be fined ₱1,000 for the first offense, ₱3,000 for the second, and ₱5,000 or imprisonment of up to six months—or both—for the third and succeeding offenses, subject to the court’s discretion.
The ordinance also penalizes acts of discrimination, ridicule, or vilification against PWDs, with the same fines and penalties applying.
Establishments found violating the ordinance, along with responsible administrative officers, will face a ₱3,000 fine for the first offense, ₱5,000 for the second, and cancellation of their business permits for the third.
Villafuerte said all 182 barangays in Davao City will be required to set up a PWD Help Desk to assist their communities. According to the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), several establishments in the city have violated Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (BP 344), which mandates accessibility in public infrastructure for PWDs.
To address this, Villafuerte said they will coordinate with the Office of the Building Official (OCBO) and relevant agencies to audit building compliance. He hopes the ordinance will help ensure BP 344 is fully enforced.
Section 5 of the ordinance—the Right to Mobility—requires all new buildings and facilities in Davao City to be barrier-free. It mandates compliance with BP 344 provisions, including the installation of ramps and elevators. Non-compliant structures will not be granted occupancy permits.
Section 7, the Right to Travel, mandates that public transportation be made more accessible. Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs), for example, must allocate at least two front seats for PWD passengers. These seats may be used by others if unoccupied but must be yielded once a PWD boards the vehicle.
Villafuerte added that the ordinance lays the groundwork for a future subsidy program for PWDs, which will be tackled in a separate ordinance. He envisions this subsidy to be similar to what is provided to solo parents and senior citizens.
"This is a big step for our PWDs daghan tag mga recent ordinances na pasa atong free na magtan-aw sine atoang mga PWDs, establishment of our PDAO, naa namay rights and privileges ang next step natu ani ang subsidy program (This is a big step for our PWDs. We’ve already passed ordinances granting them free movie access and established the PDAO. With this ordinance, their rights and privileges are in place. The next step is a subsidy program)," he said in a media interview on June 10, 2025.
He noted that because the number of registered PWDs in Davao is lower than that of senior citizens, implementing a monthly subsidy is feasible. However, he expects the next City Council—the 21st—to take on the measure and said he would coordinate closely with the Committee on Social Services to support it.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) estimates there are around 22,000 registered PWDs in Davao City—a number expected to rise as the Department of Health updates its guidelines on PWD classifications. RGP