Category: Resources

Shared general resources from the Internet and from PWAG members

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Accessible Websites Meetings Philippine Laws on Accessibility

DICT conducts consultation meeting on Memo Circular No. 4

Participants from DICT, National Council on Disability Affairs and other NGOs including PWAG
Participants from DICT, National Council on Disability Affairs and other NGOs including PWAG

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) held its first assessment meeting about the status of implementation of the Web Accessibility Memo Circular No. 4 last September 13, 2019 at DICT Seminar Room.

Presiding over the meeting is Dir. Philip Varilla, Information Bureau Chief of DICT. He requested for the said meeting upon the orders of the Office of the President as an offshoot of the First Accessibility Summit held recently. Among those from the government who attended include the National Council on Disability Affairs led by TCD Chief Dandy Victa, representatives from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and attached agencies of DICT.  PWAG President Jojo Esposa Jr. and ATRIEV President Tony Llanes participated as part of the non-government organizations.

Web Accessibility Presentation
Web Accessibility Presentation

Ms. Jing Sara of DICT presented the current status of web accessibility compliance among government websites that are hosted by the Government Web Hosting Service (GWHS). She regretfully informed the group that the government still has zero (0) compliance as per WCAG 2.0 guidelines based on the 2018 web audit report.

Part of Presentation Showing Zero Compliance Among Government Websites
Part of Presentation Showing Zero Compliance Among Government Websites

For his part, Mr. Esposa requested the group to clarify the role of PWAG and ATRIEV in the government’s web accessibility agenda.

The group also discussed the sustainable development goal of web accessibility and guidelines in uploading files. They also requested the DICT o come up with a sustainability plan for the implementation of Memo Circular No. 4 such as adding it as a part of issuing Seal of Local Governance, Government Transparency Seal and giving awards and recognition to compliant websites.

DICT Memo Circular was signed on May 12, 2017.

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Philippine Laws on Accessibility Resources

Philippines Adopt WCAG 2.0

Snapshot of the First Page of DICT Memo Circular No. 4
The Philippines now prescribes the Web Content Accessibility Guideline No. 2 as the “PHILIPPINE STANDARD FOR MAKING WEB CONTENT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO A WIDER RANGE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES”.

In a Memorandum Circular No. 4 issued by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), all heads of the departments, bureaus, offices and other agencies of the National Government, including constitution commissions, congress, the judiciary, office of the ombudsman, state universities and colleges, government financial institutions, government-own or -controlled corporations, local government units and all other concerned must comply with the Philippine Web Accessibility Policy using the international standard.

The Memo Circular was signed by DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima on June 9, 2017.

You may view the original Memo Circular from the DICT Official Website on this link in downloadable PDF format of a digital image.

You may also download the Memo Circular in MS Word Docx format here.

Another format in Memo Circular in text format here.

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Issues and News Items on Disabilities News

Paving the Way for Universal Design and Web Accessibility for PWD’s*

Video created by Vera Files are shown in the writeshop.
Writeshop Web Accessibility Video

Manila, PH — A Policy Development Writeshop on Accessible ICT for Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) was conducted at the Mimosa Leisure Estate, Clark Pampanga from February 9-11, 2016. The event brought about the collaborative efforts of members of the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICTO) and the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA).

The result of the three-day workshop is an initial draft of a Joint Memorandum Circular with an overarching theme of Universal Design, where products, services, and facilities can be used by virtually everyone, regardless of the level of ability or disability. This Joint Memorandum Circular is to be signed by heads of the DOST-ICTO and NCDA, and implemented in all Government Agencies, Constitutional Offices, Local Government Units (LGUs), Government Owned And Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), State Universities And Colleges (SUCs), Philippine Embassies and other Philippine Offices Abroad.

As part of the Philippine Digital Strategy’s thrust of Investing in People through providing Digital Literacy For All, the literacy and competency needs of special sectors, including PWD’s need to be addressed. It was through the Policy Development Writeshop that participating PWD groups, including Resources for the Blind (RBI), Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG) and Manila Christian Institute for the Deaf (MCCID) were able to provide the current state and context of PWDs’ access to ICT in the Philippines. By sharing their experiences as well as their major challenges, the participants were able to draw the main issues that ought to be addressed in the Joint Memorandum Circular.

To target each issue efficiently, participants were grouped into five, each addressing the specific issue/s attributed to PWD’s accessibility to ICT. The participants answered to issues regarding health and data, education, transport and infrastructure, telecommunications, and employment.

Through focus group discussions, participants from both the ICT industry as well as the PWD’s were able to share their own insights and create the foundation for the Joint Memorandum Circular, in reference to existing laws and policies. Following the workshop is an initial discussion, followed by a series of online and face-to-face consultations with various disability groups.

* Copied News Article from the Department of Information and Communications Technology Official Website Posted on February 2016
Paving the Way for Universal Design and Web Accessibility for PWD’s
** Copied News Article from Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf College of Technology Official Website Posted on February 2016
MCCID Deaf Teacher Lectures in ICT Writeshop