More Intervention for Children With Disabilities

In a recent study released by UNICEF in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with support from the Australian Government, it was discovered that households with children with disability spend up to three times more than other households.

The study entitled “Cost of Raising Children with Disabilities in the Philippines” conducted a national survey covering 240 municipalities/cities in over 17 regions and 69 provinces in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and NCR. Over 2,753 interviews were conducted with households with children having disabilities and those without, residing in the same areas.

When additional costs are added on top of poverty rates, children with disabilities are more likely to experience poverty rates at 50% higher than other children.

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo has stated that “The DSWD has been intervening, has been helping families with children with disabilities, however, we have to do some more, have to add more. Because I feel and I believe it is not enough. We will help families with children with disability to lighten the burden of expenses. It is really expensive, particularly the maintenance, if you have a child or member of a family who has a disability,”

The data showed that expenditures for children with disabilities, expenditures are 40 to 80% higher. With this, households with disability cards spend almost three times more than other households. Aside from this, only one out of five children with disabilities currently have disability cards.

Despite the government offering subsidies regardless of economic background, only those with disability cards can access these and those affluent households can benefit from them.

The government should fill in gaps in terms of accessibility to provide identification cards to persons with disabilities and support through subsidies and programs to lighten the burden of costs.

Source: Philstar, Unicef