Championing Inclusivity: DBM Caraga Undergoes Accessibility Audit for National Disability Rights Week

NDRM 2026

Slide 2

Details: 16.Jul

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — In a proactive step toward building a more inclusive and barrier-free government, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Office in Caraga welcomed a composite team last July 7, 2026, for a comprehensive Access Audit of its facilities.

The assessment was spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga—acting as Chair of the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA) together with technical experts, architects, and engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Butuan City and the Loving Presence Foundation, Inc.

This joint initiative is a core highlight of the region's preparations for the 48th National Disability Rights Week (NDRW), scheduled for July 17 to 23, 2026. Under this year's highly progressive theme, "Rights First, Legislation Forward – Strategic Action for Equal Participation and Inclusive Development," the audit aims to translate disability laws from paper into tangible physical access.

The evaluation team rigorously assessed DBM Caraga’s physical infrastructure against the strict standards of Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, commonly known as the Accessibility Law. The inspection focused on ensuring that architectural features—ranging from ramps and handrails to washrooms, signage, and tactile pathways—allow persons with disabilities (PWDs) to navigate the regional office independently, safely, and with dignity.

Rather than viewing the audit as a simple compliance check, DBM Caraga embraced the evaluation as an opportunity to reflect the agency’s core values of public service.

DBM Caraga joins a select roster of National Government Agencies (NGAs) in Butuan City that underwent the physical assessment between July 6 and July 9, 2026, including the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

As National Disability Rights Week approaches, DBM Caraga remains firmly committed to working hand-in-hand with the RCDA and its partner stakeholders. By integrating the audit’s recommendations into its institutional planning, DBM Caraga is taking concrete steps toward a future where "equal participation" is a physical reality for every client who walks through its doors.