The Philippine government has enacted laws to protect and promote the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), including Republic Act No. 7277 (1992), otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 (1983), otherwise known as the Accessibility Law. These legal frameworks guarantee access to education, healthcare, employment, and social services. National agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Health (DOH) implement programs that may benefit PWDs, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and PhilHealth benefits.
At the local level, Local Government Units (LGUs) are tasked with operationalizing these mandates in accordance with Executive Order No. 417 (2005) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, which direct national agencies and LGUs to institutionalize funding and implement programs that promote the economic independence, self-reliance, and social inclusion of PWDs. Despite these frameworks and funding mechanisms, gaps persist between policy intent and lived experiences. Many government programs are not disability- specific, and existing eligibility criteria may inadvertently exclude some PWDs. Employment-based initiatives such as TUPAD often require short-term labor participation (DOLE, 2023), which may not be feasible for individuals with certain impairments. Poverty-targeted programs like 4Ps are household-based rather than disability-focused, while social pension schemes primarily prioritize senior citizens. Consequently, some PWDs remain ineligible for key social protection programs despite significant health and economic vulnerabilities.
Even with established laws, empirical evidence consistently points to a disconnect between formal commitments and everyday realities. Filipinos with disabilities continue to face constrained access to healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and social protection (Marella et al., 2016). These challenges also reflect broader gaps in the realization of disability rights, where legal guarantees provided under national policies are not consistently translated into practical entitlements in everyday life, resulting in uneven access to services and limited exercise of rights among PWDs (Tabuga, 2013). In light of these gaps, this study examined the lived experiences of PWDs in accessing government program services in Numancia, Aklan. Using narrative inquiry, it explored how PWDs experience formal recognition, access services often through intermediaries, encounter structural and social barriers, exercise available rights, and develop support strategies within local service delivery systems. By centering PWD voices, the study offers policy-relevant insights into the persistent implementation gap between national disability frameworks and local governance practices.
The Capability Approach, developed by Sen (1999), provides a framework for understanding welfare and development in terms of individuals' real freedoms or capabilities to achieve the lives they value. Rather than focusing solely on the provision of resources or services, the approach emphasizes whether individuals have the actual opportunity to use these resources in meaningful ways. This perspective highlights the distinction between formal access and substantive access, where the presence of programs does not necessarily guarantee that individuals can benefit from them.
In the context of disability, the Capability Approach underscores that persons with disabilities (PWDs) require more than nominal or symbolic access to services. They need enabling environments-physical, social, institutional, and informational-that support their ability to participate fully in society. Nussbaum (2000) further expanded this framework by identifying central human capabilities, including autonomy, social inclusion, and control over one's environment, which are essential for understanding the lived experiences of PWDs.
In this study, the Capability Approach served as an analytical lens to examine how government program services shape the actual opportunities available to PWDs. It guided the interpretation of how personal conditions, social relationships, institutional arrangements, and environmental barriers influence access to services and the extent to which these services enhance or constrain the capabilities of PWDs.
Narrative inquiry, as conceptualized by Clandinin and Connelly (2000), is grounded in the idea that individuals construct meaning through the stories they tell about their lived experiences. It views narratives as both the method and the phenomenon of study, recognizing that experiences are shaped by context and interpreted over time. This approach allows for an in-depth understanding of how individuals perceive, interpret, and make sense of their interactions with social institutions.
Central to narrative inquiry are the three interrelated dimensions of temporality, sociality, and place. Temporality situates experiences across time, encompassing past experiences, present conditions, and future expectations. Sociality refers to the personal and social conditions that influence experiences, including relationships, emotions, and institutional interactions. Place highlights the specific physical and social contexts in which experiences occur.
In this study, narrative inquiry provided the methodological and analytical foundation for exploring the lived experiences of PWDs in accessing government program services. It enabled the examination of how participants' experiences of access, barriers, and support strategies are shaped by time, social interactions, and local contexts, allowing for a deeper understanding of service delivery beyond formal policy structures.
This study employed a qualitative research design using narrative inquiry to examine the lived experiences of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in accessing government program services. The study was conducted in Numancia, Aklan, Philippines. The participants consisted of ten (10) registered PWDs who had accessed at least one government program or service.
They were selected through purposive, maximum-variation sampling to capture diverse experiences based on age, disability type, and level of engagement with government services. Data were collected in November 2025 through semi-structured interviews conducted in Aklanon. Interviews lasted approximately 20 to 40 minutes and were audio-recorded with participants' consent. Transcripts were translated into English for analysis.
The analysis followed the six phases of Braun and Clarke (2006). In the first phase, familiarization with the data, the researcher read and reread the transcripts several times to become deeply immersed in the participants' narratives and to develop an overall sense of their experiences. In the second phase, generating initial codes, significant statements, recurring ideas, and meaningful text segments were identified and assigned preliminary codes. In the third phase, searching for themes, related codes were grouped together to form broader patterns of meaning that captured important aspects of participants' experiences. In the fourth phase, reviewing themes, the preliminary themes were carefully examined and refined to ensure they were coherent, distinct, and well supported by the data. In the fifth phase, defining and naming themes, each theme was clarified, its scope and focus were determined, and appropriate labels were assigned to reflect its central meaning. In the sixth phase, writing the report, the final themes were woven into a narrative presentation of results, supported by participants' accounts and interpreted in relation to the study's objectives and conceptual framework.
The coding process was both inductive and deductive. Inductively, codes and patterns were allowed to emerge from the participants' own stories. Deductively, the researcher also examined these codes in relation to the conceptual dimensions of Amartya Sen's Capability Approach, such as mobility, health and well-being, autonomy, participation, and access to enabling structures, to illuminate how personal and structural factors shaped participants' actual opportunities to access government services.
To preserve narrative integrity, each transcript was first developed into a case narrative summarizing the participants' background, experiences, perceived barriers, strategies, and reflections, presented chronologically. These restored narratives helped maintain the holistic character of each participant's story before moving into cross-case analysis. After this, a cross-case thematic analysis was conducted to identify convergent, divergent, and unique experiences across participants. Ethical considerations were observed through voluntary participation, informed consent, and confidentiality using pseudonyms.
This section presents the results of the study derived through thematic analysis of the narratives of ten (10) registered persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Numancia, Aklan.
| Pseudonym | Age | Sex | Marital Status | Educational Attainment | Type of Disability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario | 40 | Male | Married | College Graduate | Physical Disability |
| Ramon | 62 | Male | Single | College Level | Physical Disability |
| Antonio | 69 | Male | Married | Elementary Level | Physical Disability |
| Lourdes | 50 | Female | Single | Elementary Graduate | Physical Disability |
| Kevin | 23 | Male | Single | High School Graduate | Physical Disability |
| Joshua | 24 | Male | Single | No Grade Completed | Speech Impairment |
| Rosalinda | 69 | Female | Single | Associate Graduate | Physical Disability |
| Edgar | 48 | Male | Single | Elementary Level | Physical Disability |
| Maricel | 32 | Female | Single | Elementary Graduate | Physical Disability |
| Dennis | 36 | Male | Single | High School Graduate | Mental Disability |
The group reflects diversity in age, sex, marital status, educational attainment, and type of disability. Most participants were male and single, with ages ranging from 23 to 69 years old. In terms of disability type, the majority had physical disabilities, while one participant had a speech impairment and another had a mental disability. These variations indicate that PWD beneficiaries are not a homogeneous group but individuals with differing conditions and life circumstances. This diversity underscores the need for government programs that are inclusive and responsive to the varying needs of the disability sector.
| Major Themes | Description |
|---|---|
| Recognition as the Gateway to Access | Access to government services begins with formal recognition as a PWD through registration and possession of a PWD identification card, which serves as the primary requirement for eligibility and entitlement to benefits. |
| Access Through Intermediaries | Access is facilitated by family members, barangay officials, PWD leaders, and health workers who provide information, assistance, and guidance in navigating procedures and claiming services. |
| Assistance as Occasional and Conditional | Government support is experienced as irregular and dependent on availability, prioritization, and selection processes, rather than as a consistent or guaranteed provision. |
| Navigating Access Across Multiple Offices | Access involves moving across different government offices and institutions, requiring referrals, documentation, and coordination across multiple service points. |
The findings show that access to government program services is shaped by both formal requirements and informal support systems. While recognition enables eligibility, actual access is influenced by intermediaries, resource availability, and local service processes.
| Major Themes | Description |
|---|---|
| Right to Identification as a Person with Disability | Formal recognition through the issuance of a PWD identification card, which establishes eligibility and enables access to government services and benefits. |
| Right to Discounts and Special Privileges | Exercise of statutory benefits such as the 20% discount and VAT exemption on essential goods and services, including medicines, food, and transportation. |
| Right to Social Assistance | Access to material support such as rice, groceries, canned goods, and other basic necessities provided through barangay and municipal programs. |
| Right to Medical Assistance and Health-Related Support | Access to financial aid, medicines, health services, and ongoing support from health institutions to address medical needs. |
| Right to Information on Programs and Benefits | Access to information regarding available programs and services through barangay officials, PWD leaders, health workers, and family networks. |
The results indicate that PWDs exercise their rights through identification, access to benefits, and participation in government programs. These rights are experienced in practical, everyday contexts through available services and assistance.
| Major Themes | Description |
|---|---|
| Limited Coverage and Selective Distribution of Assistance | Access to government support is constrained by limited resources, quotas, infrequent distribution, and selection processes, resulting in restricted and uneven access among eligible PWDs. |
| Access Shaped by Intermediaries and Personal Connections | Access often depends on the presence of family members, barangay officials, or personal connections who facilitate procedures, reducing barriers for some but creating unequal access for others. |
| Uneven Access Shaped by Context, Relationships, and Social Perceptions | Access varies depending on situational factors, including interpersonal relationships, local practices, and perceptions of disability, resulting in differing experiences among PWDs. |
The findings reveal that barriers to access are linked to structural limitations, procedural conditions, and social factors. These challenges contribute to uneven and inconsistent access to government services among PWDs.
| Major Themes | Description |
|---|---|
| Family Support as the Core Strategy for Daily Survival and Access | Family members provide emotional, financial, and practical support, including caregiving, food provision, assistance in accessing services, and covering medical expenses, enabling PWDs to manage daily needs and navigate barriers. |
| Emotional Coping and Personal Acceptance as Support Strategies | PWDs employ internal coping mechanisms such as acceptance of social perceptions, prayer, and emotional expression to manage psychological challenges and sustain resilience despite limited and uncertain support. |
The results show that PWDs rely on both family support and personal coping strategies to overcome barriers. These support systems play a crucial role in sustaining daily functioning and enabling continued access to services.
| Major Themes | Description |
|---|---|
| Need for Regular, Adequate, and Sustained Assistance | Government support should be consistent, sufficient, and continuous to effectively address daily living and health needs of PWDs. |
| Fairness, Transparency, and Needs-Based Distribution | Assistance should be distributed equitably based on clear criteria, prioritizing the most vulnerable and ensuring transparent selection processes. |
| Equitable Prioritization of PWDs in Social Protection Programs | PWDs should be given equal or greater priority in social protection programs, considering their limited work capacity and ongoing needs. |
| Simplifying and Making Service Delivery More Direct | Service processes should be streamlined to reduce bureaucratic steps, making access easier, faster, and more accessible for PWDs. |
| Strengthening Health and Medical Support | Health services should include continuous provision of medicines, regular check-ups, and expanded medical assistance to support long-term needs. |
| Proactive, Accountable, and Informative Service Delivery | Government agencies should actively conduct outreach, monitor beneficiaries, ensure accountability, and improve dissemination of information on available services. |
| Inclusive Livelihood and Employment Opportunities | Programs should support income-generating activities and employment opportunities for capable PWDs to promote self-reliance and dignity. |
The findings highlight participants' recommendations for improving the accessibility and delivery of government services for PWDs. These insights emphasize the need for more consistent, equitable, and responsive support systems, including simplified processes, strengthened health services, and proactive service delivery. Overall, the results point toward a shift from short-term assistance to more inclusive and sustainable approaches that promote dignity and self-reliance.
The findings of this study demonstrate that access to government program services among persons with disabilities (PWDs) is shaped by the interaction of formal eligibility, institutional practices, and social relationships. While legal frameworks establish entitlements, actual access is experienced as conditional, mediated, and uneven across participants. This reflects a broader pattern in the Philippines where the existence of policies does not automatically translate into consistent and equitable service delivery (Marella et al., 2016; Tabuga, 2013).
From the perspective of the Capability Approach, access to services extends beyond the mere availability of programs toward the real freedoms of individuals to utilize them. Although participants were formally recognized as beneficiaries, their ability to access assistance depended on enabling conditions such as institutional responsiveness, availability of resources, and support from others. This suggests that capabilities were not uniformly expanded, as structural and procedural constraints continued to limit participants' actual opportunities to benefit from government programs.
The findings further reveal that access is often mediated through interpersonal relationships rather than through standardized administrative systems. Participants relied heavily on family members, barangay officials, and local networks to obtain information, process requirements, and claim assistance. This aligns with Tabuga's (2013) observation that PWDs frequently depend on informal support systems due to limited awareness and accessibility of formal mechanisms. While such mediation facilitates access, it also introduces variability, making service delivery dependent on social connections rather than consistent procedures.
At the same time, government assistance was experienced as occasional and conditional, reflecting limitations in coverage, resource allocation, and implementation. Participants described assistance as infrequent, minimal, and dependent on availability or selection processes. This finding is consistent with studies indicating that social protection programs in the Philippines remain unevenly implemented and often fail to reach all eligible beneficiaries (Albert et al., 2021; Cabual et al., 2024). The irregular nature of support suggests that assistance functions more as discretionary relief than as a sustained entitlement.
Barriers to access were also shaped by structural and social factors, including limited program reach, reliance on intermediaries, and contextual variations in service delivery. Access was not experienced uniformly but varied depending on personal relationships, local practices, and social perceptions of disability. This unevenness reflects the findings of Susmerano and Yamada (2022), who note that differences in local capacity and governance contribute to disparities in service provision.
In response to these barriers, participants demonstrated adaptive strategies that highlight their agency and resilience. Family support emerged as a central mechanism for sustaining daily needs and facilitating access to services, consistent with findings that Filipino families play a critical role in managing disability-related challenges (Galo & Cancio, 2023). In addition, emotional coping strategies such as acceptance, prayer, and resilience enabled participants to manage psychological stress and maintain daily functioning despite limited and uncertain support systems. These findings underscore the importance of both relational and personal resources in compensating for gaps in formal service delivery.
Finally, participants’ insights point toward the need for more responsive and inclusive governance. Their recommendations emphasize regular and adequate assistance, transparent and needs-based distribution, simplified service processes, strengthened health support, and expanded livelihood opportunities. These reflect persistent gaps between policy intent and actual implementation, reinforcing the need for disability-responsive systems that move beyond short term aid toward sustained and equitable support.
This study examined the lived experiences of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in accessing government program services in Numancia, Aklan. The findings show that PWDs represent a diverse group with varying needs and conditions, indicating that a uniform approach to service delivery may not adequately address their realities. Access to government services is anchored on formal recognition through the PWD identification card; however, it is also shaped by interpersonal relationships, local practices, and institutional arrangements. While PWDs are able to exercise rights related to identification, discounts, social assistance, medical support, and access to information, the realization of these rights varies depending on awareness, resource availability, and local implementation. Despite the presence of government programs, access remains uneven due to limited coverage, selective distribution, reliance on intermediaries, and social perceptions of disability. In response, PWDs rely on family support and personal coping strategies to manage daily challenges and sustain engagement with available services. These findings suggest that while existing programs provide some level of support, there is a need to strengthen service delivery systems to ensure that assistance is more consistent, equitable, and responsive to the actual conditions of PWDs.
In light of these findings, several recommendations are proposed. Local Government Units (LGUs) may strengthen the regularity, adequacy, and inclusivity of assistance by institutionalizing sustained support mechanisms, such as regular financial aid or allowances, and by ensuring that programs are responsive to varying levels of need. Government agencies and service providers may simplify service delivery processes, reduce bureaucratic requirements, and improve coordination among offices to make access more direct and accessible. Efforts to promote fairness and transparency in the distribution of assistance may be reinforced through clear, needs-based criteria and improved beneficiary identification systems. Health and social welfare institutions may enhance continuous medical support, including the provision of medicines, regular monitoring, and proactive communication with beneficiaries. In addition, PWD Affairs Offices (PDAO), barangay officials, and community organizations may strengthen information dissemination through accessible communication strategies and outreach activities. Policymakers may consider strengthening disability-responsive policies by expanding social protection mechanisms, promoting inclusive livelihood and employment opportunities, and ensuring consistent implementation of existing laws.