Cotabato City, 31 July 2026 — Oxfam Pilipinas and members of the Persons with Disabilities Advocacy Group (PWD-AG) welcomed the approval of the Committee Report on the amended version of the proposed Bangsamoro Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities, by the Committee on Women, Youth, Children and Persons with Disabilities of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority on 15 July 2026, calling it a significant step toward a more inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful Bangsamoro.
The milestone builds on the collaborative efforts under the Women’s Empowerment for Leadership in Development and Peace in the Bangsamoro (WELD Peace Project), now in its third phase. Supported by the Australian Government, the project promotes disability inclusion alongside gender equality and inclusive governance. Among its key advocacy priorities is advancing the Women’s Agenda within the Bangsamoro basic codes while ensuring that the rights, participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities are fully integrated into policy reforms.
Through the project, members of the PWD-AG jointly reviewed the proposed measure and consolidated recommendations to strengthen the bill. On 8 July 2026, around 15 organizations convened to review BTA Bill No. 443, consolidate recommendations for amendments, and formally submit these to the Committee.
PWD-AG is a coalition composed of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), including the Tri-People Deaf Association of Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi Alliance of Persons with Disabilities, and the Federation of Persons with Disabilities–Wao, Lanao del Sur; Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs) from Tugunan and Ligawasan, Special Geographic Area (SGA), Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur; and civil society organizations including development partner Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) and WELD Peace Project implementers led by Oxfam Pilipinas, Al-Mujaadila Women’s Association (AMWA), United Youth of the Philippines (UnYPhil-Women), and Women Engaged in Action (WEAct 1325), along with technical partner, Humanity & Inclusion (HI).
“Inclusion is not about how many people are present. It’s about ensuring every voice is heard, every barrier is addressed, and every person has the opportunity to participate with dignity,” said Alvin Alinapon, Secretary of the PWD Advocacy Group and the Federation of Persons with Disabilities in Wao, Lanao del Sur.
Key amendments adopted following consultations include the mandatory establishment of Persons with Disabilities Affairs Offices (PDAOs) in local government units, recognition of the rights of neurodivergent persons, and the creation of a regional persons with disabilities registration system and disability rights complaints desk.
The measure also strengthens economic inclusion by reserving at least one percent of appointive positions in Bangsamoro government offices for qualified persons with disabilities, while expanding protection for persons who acquired disabilities due to armed conflict and providing scholarship assistance for caregivers.
Oxfam Pilipinas also recognized the leadership of the Committee on Women, Youth, Children and Persons with Disabilities for prioritizing the measure and ensuring that persons with disabilities were meaningfully engaged throughout the legislative process.
As the measure moves to the new Bangsamoro Parliament, the coalition emphasized that the Committee’s approval marks only the beginning of a continuing collaborative process. The group called for stronger coordination among sectors to ensure the passage of the Amended Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilties in the Bangsamoro and the effective implementation of disability-inclusive policies and programs across the region.
