Republic Act No. 2615· Enacted 1959-08-01

Vocational Rehabilitation Rights for PWDs Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Blind o may kapansanan ka ba? Alamin ang iyong karapatan sa vocational rehabilitation, training centers, at balik-trabaho sa ilalim ng Philippine law.

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Official text — Republic Act No. 2615

Jump to section ↓7 sections

Preamble — REPUBLIC ACT No. 2615
Section 1 — Subsection (b), section seven of Republic Act Nu
Section 2 — The second paragraph of subsection (c), section
Section 3 — Two new sections are inserted after section eigh
Sec. 8 —
Sec. 8 —
Section 4 — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Preamble

REPUBLIC ACT No. 2615

An Act to Amend Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered One Thousand One Hundred Seventy-Nine, Entitled "An Act to Provide for the Promotion of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Blind and Other Handicapped Persons and Their Return to Civil Employment," and to Create a National Council on Rehabilitation

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

Section 1.

Subsection (b), section seven of Republic Act Numbered One thousand one hundred seventy-nine, is amended to read as follows:

"(b) Over-all supervision of the Pilot Adjustment and Training Center and all the regional training centers that may be established;"

Section 2

Section 2.

The second paragraph of subsection (c), section eight of Republic Act Numbered One thousand one hundred seventy-nine, is amended to read as follows:

"The Pilot Adjustment and Training Center and the regional training centers that may be established shall operate eight hours a day, five instruction days per week for a minimum duration of three months with individual extension possible up to a maximum of twelve months."

Section 3 — Two new sections are inserted after section eight of Republic Act Numbered One→

Section 3.

Two new sections are inserted after section eight of Republic Act Numbered One thousand one hundred seventy-nine to read as follows:

"Regional Training Centers"

Sec. 8 — →

Sec. 8

. (1)

Creation.

-To ensure that vocational rehabilitation services shall benefit the blind and other handicapped in the provinces, there shall be established, in addition to the now existing Pilot Adjustment and Training Center at Barranca, Cubao, Quezon City, according to the period hereinafter specified suitable regional adjustment and training centers for vocational rehabilitation, as follows:

"For the fiscal year nineteen hundred and sixty, Region No. 1, comprising the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, La Union, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac and the cities of Baguio and Dagupan, possibly in the regional headquarters at Dagupan City; and Region No. 7, comprising the Provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Sulu and the cities of Zamboanga, Ozamis and Basilan, possibly in the regional headquarters at Zamboanga City;

"For the fiscal year nineteen hundred and sixty-one, Region No. 4, comprising the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate and the City of Naga, possibly in the regional headquarters at Naga City; and Region No. 5, comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental, Romblon, Antique, Capiz, Aklan and Iloilo and the cities of Bacolod, Roxas and Iloilo, possibly in the regional headquarters at Iloilo City;

"For the fiscal year nineteen hundred and sixty-two, Region No. 2, comprising the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes, possibly in the regional headquarters at Tuguegarao, Cagayan, and Region No. 8, comprising the provinces of Surigao, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao, Agusan, the cities of Davao, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and Marawi, possibly in the regional headquarters at Cagayan de Oro City; and Region No. 9, comprising the provinces of Cotabato and Davao and the cities of Davao and Cotabato in the regional headquarters at Davao City.

"For the fiscal year nineteen hundred and sixty-three, Region No. 3, comprising the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Quezon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Palawan and the cities of Cabanatuan, Pasay, San Pablo, Tagaytay, Cavite, Trece Martires, Lipa, Quezon and Manila, possibly in San Pablo City; and Region No. 6, comprising the provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Cebu and the cities of Cebu, Dumaguete, Calbayog, Tacloban and Ormoc, possibly in the regional headquarters at Cebu City.

"(2) The establishment of these regional adjustment and training centers shall be at the cost of at least fifty thousand pesos each and shall be patterned after that of the first pilot project now in operation. The funds for these constructions may be drawn from the fiduciary funds of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. And the operating expenses of all existing rehabilitation centers under the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation shall be incorporated in the General Appropriation Act to be marked as "Special Purposes for Vocational Rehabilitation.

"(3) The following shall compose the nucleus of the staff for such regional centers with the corresponding compensation:

"(a) One superintendent, at ₱3,984 per annum, range ₱43

"(b) One clerk, at ₱1,476 per annum, range ₱23

"(c) One intake social worker, at ₱1,884 per annum, range ₱28

"(d) One social worker, at ₱1,884 per annum, range ₱28

"(e) One homebound social worker, at ₱1,884 per annum, range ₱28

"(f) Two vocational counselors, at ₱1,884 per annum, range ₱28

"(g) One part-time physician, at ₱1,800 per annum, range ₱27

"(h) One chief instructor, at ₱3,108 per annum, range ₱3840

"(i) One Braille instructor at ₱1,716 per annum, range ₱2432

"(j) One travel technique instructor at ₱1,716 per annum, range ₱2432

"(k) One craft instructor, at ₱1,716 per annum, range ₱2432

"(l) One rural project instructor, at ₱1,716 per annum, ₱2432

"(m) One clerk-laborer, at ₱1,152 per annum, range ₱18

"(n) One caretaker, at ₱1,152 per annum, range ₱18

"(o) One guard-driver, at ₱1,440 per annum, range ₱22

"The compensation for the staff of the regional centers shall be drawn from the fiduciary fund of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation which are its net proceeds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes draw as stipulated in section ten (b) of Republic Act Numbered One thousand one hundred seventy-nine.

"National Council on Rehabilitation

Sec. 8 — →

Sec. 8

. (a)

Creation.

-In order to have a central body to coordinate activities relating to all phases of rehabilitation of handicapped persons, there is hereby established a National Council on Rehabilitation, hereinafter referred to as the Council.

"The Council shall have fifteen members composed as follows:

"The first six members shall be nominated by the heads of the following Government agencies: Department of Health; Department of Education; Department of Labor; Department of National Defense; Social Welfare Administration and the Social Security System, which shall be referred to as Group I.

"Under Group II, shall be four representatives from medical, educational, scientific and legislative fields; four representatives from civic, financial, industrial, labor organizations, and one representative from radio and press.

"All these fifteen members shall be appointed by the President to compose the National Council on Rehabilitation.

"(b)

Term of Office.

-Each appointed member of the Council shall hold office for a term of four years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor is appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term; and except that, of the members first appointed, Group I shall enjoy four years of office; members of Group II shall be appointed with three holding office for three years, another three for two years and the next three for one year as designated by the President at the time of appointment.

"None of these members shall be eligible for re-appointment until a year has elapsed after the end of his preceding term; however, the six members from Group I shall enjoy eligibility of re-appointment to ensure continuity and direction of program without the stipulated one year provision.

"(c)

Duties and Functions.

-It shall be the duty and function of the Council:

"(1) To formulate policies regarding rehabilitation of the handicapped in the Philippines;

"(2) To help provide proper coordination of existing rehabilitation programs so as to extend maximum services to the blind and other handicapped persons and to prevent or minimize overlapping of services;

"(3) To help determine standards and criteria for all organizations and agencies engaged in rehabilitation work, whether governmental or voluntary;

"(4) To formulate rule and regulations to implement the purposes for which the council has been established;

"(5) To initiate appropriate actions, including legal, for any violation of such rules and regulations which shall be promulgated;

"(6) To initiate research on rehabilitation;

"(7) To compile statistics on the following:

"(aa) Census of handicapped individuals in the Philippines in relation to number and classification;

"(bb) Census of rehabilitation facilities;

"(cc) Census of rehabilitation needs;

"(dd) Census of already qualified handicapped workers; and

"(ee) Census of employment opportunities;

"(8) To conduct and supervise campaigns to raise fund as provided for in section ten (a) of Republic Act Numbered one thousand one hundred seventy-nine; and

"(9) To submit annual report to Congress.

"(d)

Chairman.

-The fifteen members of the Council shall appoint its chairman by democratic process from among its members within fifteen days from the date of appointment while meeting in banc.

"(e)

Executive Secretary.

-The Council is also empowered to appoint an executive secretary outside of its members by a majority vote.

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The executive secretary shall be paid an annual compensation of five thousand four hundred pesos which shall be drawn from the fiduciary fund of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation which are its net proceeds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes draw as stipulated in section ten (b) of Republic Act Numbered One thousand one hundred seventy-nine, and shall possess the following qualifications: At least five years experience with accepted competence in rehabilitation work, at least a four-year college course graduate and with good moral standing.

"(f)

Compensation of the members of the Council.

-The members of the Council which shall meet at least six (6) times a year shall receive no compensation, but shall be entitled to an honorarium not exceeding twenty-five pesos per meeting; and shall also be entitled to receive an allowance for actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses while so serving away from their places of business."

Section 4 — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.→

Section 4.

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: August 1, 1959.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Full text on BatasKo. Original source: Official Gazette / Lawphil.

Naaksidente ka. Nawalan ka ng paningin. O kaya naman, may kapansanan kang pinanganak — at ngayon, tanong mo sa sarili mo: may trabaho pa ba para sa akin?

Ang sagot ng batas: oo. At hindi lang basta sagot — may programa, may training, may government offices na responsable sa pagtulong sa iyo na makabalik sa trabahanan.

ELI5 Summary: Under Philippine law, kung ikaw ay bulag o may iba pang kapansanan, may karapatang makakuha ka ng libreng vocational training mula sa gobyerno. Ang layunin: tulungan kang makahanap ng trabaho o negosyo na akma sa iyong kakayahan. Mayroon itong regional training centers sa buong Pilipinas, at isang National Council on Rehabilitation ang nag-o-oversee ng lahat ng programa para sa mga taong may kapansanan.

Real Filipino Scenario: Ang Habal-Habal Driver na Nawalan ng Paa

Si Honey, 34 anyos, habal-habal driver sa Maynila. Isang umaga, may truck na tumangga sa kanya — fracture sa binti, at pagkatapos ng mahabang ospital, sinabi ng doktor na hindi na siya makakabalik sa dating trabaho nang walang seryosong rehabilitation.

Wala siyang ideya na may batas na tumutulong sa kanya.

Paano nag-apply ang batas kay Honey:

Under Republic Act No. 1179 as amended by RA 2615, si Honey bilang isang taong may physical disability ay karapat-dapat sa vocational rehabilitation services ng gobyerno. Ang Pilot Adjustment and Training Center sa Cubao, Quezon City — o ang regional center na pinakamalapit sa kanya — ay may programa para sa mga taong tulad niya.

Ang training ay tumatagal ng minimum na tatlong buwan, hanggang maximum na labindalawang buwan, depende sa pangangailangan niya. May vocational counselor na tutulong sa kanya na malaman kung anong bagong trabaho o livelihood ang angkop sa kanyang kondisyon.

Ano ang gagawin ni Honey:

Pumunta sa Office of Vocational Rehabilitation o sa pinakamalapit na DOLE office.
Magdala ng medikal na rekord at ID.
Humingi ng intake assessment mula sa social worker.
Mag-enroll sa training program na angkop sa kanyang kondisyon at interes.

What the Law Actually Says / Ano Talaga ang Sinasabi ng Batas

Ang RA 2615 ay isang amyenda sa Republic Act No. 1179 — ang orihinal na batas na nagtatag ng vocational rehabilitation para sa mga bulag at iba pang taong may kapansanan sa Pilipinas.

Ang mga pangunahing pagbabago at probisyon:

Training Duration — Under Section 2 of RA 2615, which amends the second paragraph of Subsection (c), Section 8 of RA 1179, ang Pilot Adjustment and Training Center at lahat ng regional centers ay dapat mag-operate ng walong oras bawat araw, limang araw bawat linggo, sa loob ng minimum tatlong buwan hanggang maximum labindalawang buwan.

Regional Training Centers — Under Section 3 of RA 2615, Sec. 8-A(1), ang gobyerno ay obligadong magtatag ng regional centers sa buong Pilipinas — mula Ilocos Norte hanggang Davao, mula Zamboanga hanggang Cebu. Hindi ka na kailangang pumunta pa sa Maynila para makakuha ng serbisyo.

National Council on Rehabilitation — Under Section 3 of RA 2615, Sec. 8-B, may nilikhang National Council on Rehabilitation — isang 15-miyembrong katawan na binubuo ng mga kinatawan mula sa Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of National Defense, Social Welfare Administration, at Social Security System, kasama ang mga eksperto mula sa medikal, edukasyon, at civic organizations.

Ang Council ang responsable sa:

Pagbuo ng mga patakaran para sa rehabilitation ng mga taong may kapansanan sa buong Pilipinas
Pag-coordinate ng lahat ng existing rehabilitation programs
Pag-iwas sa pagdoble ng serbisyo at pag-maximize ng tulong sa mga benepisyaryo

Funding — Under Sec. 8-A(2) of RA 2615, ang bawat regional center ay may minimum na ₱50,000 na startup cost (sa 1959 na presyo), na kinukuha mula sa fiduciary funds ng Office of Vocational Rehabilitation — na bahagi ng kita mula sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes.

What This Means for You / Ano ang Ibig Sabihin Nito

Para sa simple, ito ang dapat mong malaman:

Una, ikaw ay may karapatan sa serbisyo — hindi ito charity. Kung ikaw ay bulag o may physical, mental, o sensory disability na nakakaapekto sa iyong kakayahang magtrabaho, ikaw ay qualified.

Pangalawa, hindi mo kailangang bayaran ang training. Ang programa ay government-funded. Ang vocational counselor, ang instructor, ang social worker — lahat ay bahagi ng serbisyo.

Pangatlo, ang layunin ay trabaho — hindi lang para maging masaya ka sa loob ng training center. Ang buong programa ay nakatuon sa pagbabalik mo sa active employment — o sa pagtatayo ng sariling negosyo kung hindi applicable ang regular na trabaho.

Ang batas na ito ay nagsimula noong 1959, pero ang principles nito ay patuloy na isinasabatas sa mas bagong mga batas tulad ng RA 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) at RA 10524 (na nag-amend ng RA 7277 para sa mandatory PWD hiring).

Real Filipino Scenario: Ang Laundrywoman na Nahirapan Mag-apply

Si Kathleen, 41 anyos, laundrywoman sa Bacolod. Matagal na siyang may weak eyesight dahil sa diabetes — at kamakailan, sinabi ng doktor niya na clinically blind na siya sa isang mata, at mabilis bumababa ang paningin sa isa pa.

Alam niyang may programa ang gobyerno, pero naisip niya: "Para ba sa akin 'yan? Nagtatrabaho naman ako noon, hindi naman ako laging dependent sa gobyerno."

Ang mali-maling akala ni Kathleen — at ang katotohanan:

Maraming Pilipino ang nag-aatubili mag-apply sa vocational rehabilitation dahil iniisip nilang para lang ito sa mga taong hindi na talaga makakagalaw. Mali ito.

Ang programa ay dinisenyo para sa mga tulad ni Kathleen — mga taong nandoon pa ang kakayahan, pero kailangan ng bagong kasanayan o livelihood dahil hindi na angkop ang dating trabaho. Sa ilalim ng RA 2615, Sec. 8-A, ang regional training center sa Region No. 5 (na sumasaklaw sa Negros Occidental, kung saan naroon ang Bacolod) ay dapat magbigay ng services sa kanya.

Si Kathleen ay maaaring ma-train sa Braille production, handicrafts, o ibang livelihood programs na hindi kailangan ng mataas na paningin.

Ano ang gagawin ni Kathleen:

Kumuha ng medikal na sertipikasyon mula sa kanyang ophthalmologist.
Makipag-ugnayan sa DSWD o NCDA (National Council on Disability Affairs) sa Bacolod.
Humingi ng referral sa regional training center.
Huwag mahiyang tanggapin ang serbisyo — ito ang karapatan mo, hindi handout.

What Most Filipinos Get Wrong / Mga Karaniwang Pagkakamali

"Para lang sa bulag ang programa na ito."

Hindi. Ang RA 1179 at RA 2615 ay eksplisitong sumasaklaw sa "blind and other handicapped persons." Kasama ang physical disability, hearing impairment, at iba pa.

"Kailangan kong pumunta sa Maynila para sa training."

Hindi na. Ang isa sa pangunahing layunin ng RA 2615 ay ang pagtatag ng regional training centers sa buong Pilipinas — para hindi na kailangang lumayo ang mga taga-probinsya para makatanggap ng serbisyo.

"Isang beses lang akong pwede mag-training."

Under Section 2 of RA 2615, may probisyon para sa individual extension ng training — maaaring mapalawak ang iyong program hanggang labindalawang buwan depende sa iyong pangangailangan.

"Wala na itong bisa ngayon, luma na."

Ang RA 2615 ay itinayo ang pundasyon para sa modernong PWD rehabilitation sa Pilipinas. Ang mga institusyon at principles nito ay patuloy na umiiral sa ilalim ng National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) at DOLE. Hindi siya nag-expire — pinalawak at pinalago lang.

"Dapat may employer certificate muna bago mag-apply."

Hindi kailangan ng proof of prior employment. Ang programa ay bukas sa lahat ng qualified na taong may kapansanan, employed man dati o hindi.

Para sa OFW / For OFWs

Ikaw ay OFW na nasugatang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa — o may kapansanan na natamo mo habang nasa abroad ka. Ito ang dapat mong malaman.

Ang pinakamahalaga: hindi ka iniwan ng sistema.

Kung ikaw ay naaksidente o nagkasakit habang nasa kontrata sa ibayong dagat at nagresulta sa disability, ikaw ay may dalawang linya ng proteksyon:

Sa pamamagitan ng DMW/POEA at OWWA:

Ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ay may disability benefit para sa mga miyembrong OFW.
Ang iyong employer ay obligadong mag-bayad ng medical at disability claims sa ilalim ng Standard Employment Contract.
Makipag-ugnayan sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO/MWO) o sa Philippine Embassy/Consulate sa bansang tinitirhan mo para makapag-file ng claims.

Pag-uwi mo sa Pilipinas:

Ang vocational rehabilitation services ay available sa iyo bilang returning OFW na may disability.
Makipag-ugnayan sa DOLE One-Stop Service Center para sa OFWs o sa NCDA para sa assessment at referral sa pinakamalapit na regional training center.
Ang DSWD ay mayroon ding livelihood programs para sa returning OFWs na may disability.

Si Tomas, 39 anyos, caregiver (badante) sa Spain. Nagtrabaho siya bilang caregiver ng mga matatanda sa Espanya, pero nagkaroon siya ng serious spinal injury dahil sa mabigat na trabaho. Wala na siyang kakayahang bumalik sa caregiving.

Pagkabalik niya sa Pilipinas, maaari siyang:

Mag-file ng disability claim sa OWWA (kung miyembro siya bago umalis).
Makipag-ugnayan sa DMW para sa legal na proseso ng employer claims.
Mag-apply sa NCDA para sa vocational rehabilitation assessment.
Ma-enroll sa training program na angkop sa kanyang kondisyon — hal. livelihood skills, computer-based work, o handicraft production.

Ang telepono ng OWWA: (02) 8891-7601 | Website: owwa.gov.ph Ang NCDA: ncda.gov.ph | DOLE: dole.gov.ph

What to Do if Your Rights Are Violated / Ano ang Gagawin

Kung ikaw ay denied ng vocational rehabilitation services kahit karapat-dapat ka:

Kumuha ng written na denial — humingi ng opisyal na dokumento mula sa ahensya kung bakit ka tinanggihan. Huwag tanggaping verbal lang ang sagot.
Makipag-ugnayan sa NCDA — ang National Council on Disability Affairs ang pangunahing ahensya na nag-o-oversee ng PWD rights sa Pilipinas. Maaari kang mag-file ng reklamo sa kanilang opisina o sa kanilang website sa ncda.gov.ph.
Makipag-ugnayan sa DOLE — lalo na kung may trabaho-related na aspeto ang iyong sitwasyon. Ang DOLE ay may mga regional offices sa buong Pilipinas.
Makipag-ugnayan sa DSWD — para sa social welfare assistance at referral sa tamang programa.
Humingi ng tulong sa Commission on Human Rights (CHR) — kung naniniwala kang nilabag ang iyong karapatang-pantao bilang taong may kapansanan.
Makipag-ugnayan sa PWD advocacy groups — tulad ng Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) o National Federation of Disability Organizations (NFDO) para sa legal na gabay at suporta.
Dokumentin ang lahat — i-save ang lahat ng sulat, email, at resibo ng iyong mga pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga ahensya.

Related Laws / Mga Kaugnay na Batas

Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (RA 7277) — Ang komprehensibong batas na nagbibigay ng karapatan sa mga PWD sa

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Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

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