Philippine Laws
Supporting
Web Accessibility,
an Overview
By Jojo I. Esposa Jr.
Manila Christian Computer
Institute for the Deaf (MCCID) &
Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG)
What is web accessibility?
PWAG defines Web Accessibility as
“making your web site accessible to
anyone using the Internet
including persons with
disabilities.”
Who are the Persons with
Disabilities (PWD)?
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Deaf persons who cannot hear important news
announcements on TV without closed captions
and audio outputs on the Internet;
Blind users who cannot read Internet pages
without a special program called screen reader,
they also cannot read printed forms;
Poor eyesight users who need to control the
size of texts;
Color blind users who cannot distinguish red
from green, and blue from yellow;
Who are the Persons with
Disabilities (PWD)?
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Mobility impaired users who cannot control their
hands, thus cannot use the mouse;
Dyslexic/dyscalculic users who have difficulty
grasping information and are easily confused;
Epileptic users who need to avoid seeing
flickering or flashing objects;
Senior citizen users who acquire disabilities as
they progress their age and may be deprived of
the same situation as others.
What’s in it for me?
How many disabled people reads
websites?
 How many senior citizens read websites?
 Am I liable, or can I be jailed or penalized
if I don’t make my site accessible?
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How many are PWDs in the
Philippines?
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942,098 PWD as per 2000 census
“Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons”
(RA 7277) – March 24, 1992
Section 4: Definition of Terms
(a) It defines Disabled Persons as those suffering from
restriction, as a result of a mental, physical or
sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the
manner or within the range considered normal for a
human being;
(p) It also defines commerce as… communication
among the provinces or between any foreign country
or any territory or possession
“Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons”
(RA 7277) – March 24, 1992
TITLE THREE - PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST DISABLED PERSONS
SECTION 36: Discrimination on the Use of Public
Accommodations. – (a) No disabled persons shall be
discriminated on the basis of disability in the full and
equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities,
privileges, advantages or accommodations…
(2) A failure to make reasonable modifications in
policies, practices, or procedures, when such
modifications are necessary to afford such goods,
services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or
accommodations to individuals with disabilities...
“Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons”
(RA 7277)
Although it is not deliberately stated, using the Internet
and accessing information from it can also be
interpreted as a public service and falls under the
assistive technologies. Since the World Wide Web is
designed to be accessed by everyone (public
accommodation), preventing others to use it by
putting barriers can be a cause for discrimination.
Penalty?
1st violation = P50T – P100T fine or
6 months – 2 years imprisonment
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
With Disabilities (UNCRPD)
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Fastest Treaty ever deliberated and adopted into law by
the United Nations (4 years)
It follows the Biwako Millennium Regional Framework for
Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and RightsBased Society for PWDs in Asia and the Pacific (2002)
Adopted into law by UN General Assembly on December
13,2006
Philippines is 27th country that signed (9-25-2007) and
ratified it (4-15-2008)
As of October, 136 countries already signed with only 20
countries are needed to have it adopted to all UN
member countries.
Philippines contributed significantly on Article 9
(Accessibility Provision)
UN CRPD Significance
Article 9 – Accessibility
To enable persons with disabilities to live
independently and participate fully in all aspects of
life, States Parties shall…
(g) Promote access for persons with disabilities to new
information and communications technologies and
systems, including the Internet;
(h) Promote the design, development, production and
distribution of accessible information and
communications technologies and systems at an
early stage, so that these technologies and systems
become accessible at minimum cost.
Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG)
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Formed in 2006 out of series of regional workshops
which started in 2003.
Registered under SEC in 2007.
Tasked to implement Manila ICT Design
Recommendations and added Web Design
Accessibility Recommendations (Maturity Stages)
In tripartite with National Council on Disability Affairs
(NCDA) and National Computer Center (NCC-CICT) in
drafting an Executive Order from Philippine President
to evaluate, monitor and assist web accessibility
compliance of all government websites in accordance
with UNCRPD law
Promote web accessibility in private websites.
“Web Accessibility is not only
for people with disabilities
but for all of us
who are thankful
that there are no barriers
in using our abilities.”
Maraming salamat po!
www.pwag.org