WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 125 (s. 1993) and Proclamation No. 240 (s. 2002) proclaimed the nationwide observance in the Philippines of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities in 1993-2002 and 2003-2012, respectively;

WHEREAS, the High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012 was held at Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 29 October to 02 November 2012;

WHEREAS, during the said meeting, the participants, which included the Philippine delegation, adopted the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy to œMake the Right Real  for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific ( œIncheon Strategy ); and

WHEREAS, during the National Council on Disability Affairs ™ regional consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities, the observance of a third decade of persons with disabilities for the period of 2013-2022 was recommended to build on the gains towards disability-inclusive development.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO, III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the period of 2013-2022 as the Philippine Decade of œMake the Right Real  for Persons with Disabilities in support of the 3 rd Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities.

The National Council on Disability Affairs is hereby directed to lead all disability-related efforts by formulating and issuing a comprehensive National Plan of Action for the Decade ( œNational Plan ) which translates the objectives of Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, Republic Act Nos. 7277, 9442, 10070, and 10524, and other disability-related laws, programs and policies into concrete programs, activities, and projects.

All departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government and local government units, in consultation with the private sector, civil society organizations, non-government organizations and disabled peoples organizations, are enjoined to implement plans, programs, and activities geared towards the development of persons with disabilities in accordance with the Incheon Strategy, thereby translating its goals, targets and all its indicators into the National Plan with achievable and measureable outputs.

The funds necessary for the implementation of the provisions herein shall be sourced from the appropriations of concerned government agencies.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Thirteen.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:


(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary