Charles Teves
- Nancy Boroc, a woman with no legs, was prevented by a security guard from entering BIR Calbayog branch
- The guard said he couldn’t allow her in because she was wearing shorts
- She had to go home and change clothes to be allowed in
Disabled people are entitled to various benefits. They have discounts on goods and services, access to different sectors, and many more.
People with disabilities are protected by the Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and are defined as “those suffering from restriction of different abilities, 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.”
There are nearly two million Filipinos who are registered as PWDs.
RA 7277 also states that, “The State shall exert all efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to disabled persons.”
Nancy Torrelino Boroc, a disabled woman who has no legs, went on Facebook to spread awareness about PWDs.
Boroc went to a BIR branch in Calbayog to run an errand for her sister but was prevented from entering th premises because she was wearing shorts.
She went with her boyfriend Xander and were wearing shorts. Xander was not allowed to enter so he decided that Boroc should go in alone.
To Boroc’s surprise, the security guard told her she couldn’t come in because she was wearing shorts. The security guard mentioned that they have a new memorandum that prevents individuals who wear shorts from entering the establishment.
Boroc thought she could just get in considering the fact that shorts are the only bottoms she can wear since she literally had no legs.
The couple then went home so Boroc could change clothes. Boroc came back to the establishment while still wearing shorts but wore something stretchable on her thighs.
The security guard then just asked for her ID and she was able to do what she had to do.
“I’m posting this to spread awareness and reality. The reality that exists and happens wherever we may go. I’m not posting to rant, but to let people know about our rights. We are PWD and same as normal people, we have rights and privileges and exemptions. Magna Carta for PWD in particular, sana po maging aware lahat about our situations and our Rights,” said Boroc.
Boroc mentioned in her video that she had previously run the same errands at the same BIR branch and had no problem getting in.
