Philippines

ACAA Act (2018:1937) Act No. 99/2019 Act on Digital Accessibility Act on Welfare Act XXVI of 1998 ADA Anti-Discrimination Law AODA Argentina - 2010 Austria - 2017 Austria - 2019 Belgium - 2018 Belgium - EAA BITV 2.0 Brazil - 2014 Brazilian - 2015 Broadcasting Services Act Canada China China - 1990 China - YD/T 1761-2008 Colombia Croatia CVAA Cyprus - 2019 DDA Decree No. 2019-768 Decree-Law No. 83/2018 Denmark Denmark - 2018 Denmark - EAA Digital Republic Act Digital Services Act Discrimination Act (2008:567) E-Accessibility Policy E-Government Act EN 301 549 Equality Act 2010 - UK Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act Estonia Estonia - 2019 Estonia - Society Services Act European Union - 2016 European Union - EAA Executive Order no. 904 Federal Law No. 29 Federal Law No. 419-FZ Finland Finland - Non-Discrimination Act Framework Act France - 2005 France - 2015 France - EAA Germany - 2002 Germany - BFSG Germany - EAA GOST R 52872-2019 Government Decree 62/2015 Greece Greece - EAA Hong Kong Human Rights Act 1993 Hungary India - 2009 Indonesia Ireland Ireland - 2004 Ireland - 2005 Ireland - Accessibility Directive Israel Italy Italy - 2004 Italy - Equal Rights Japan Japan - Basic Act Disabilities JIS X 8341-3 Landscape Act (2019:7) Latvia Law 1618 of 2013 Law 20.422 Law 4591/2019 Law N° 2016-1321 Article 106 Law No. 26,653 Law No. 28530 Law No. 29973 Lithuania - 2000 Luxembourg Malaysia - 2008 Malta Mexico Netherlands Netherlands - 2003 Netherlands - 2018 Netherlands - Article 429q New Zealand Norway - 2022 Norway - ICT Nova Scotia Accessibility Act NTC 5854 P028 - Accessibility Standard Philippines Poland - 2019 Poland - EAA Portugal - EAA Procurement Standard Guidance Public Information Act Republic Act No. 10372 RGAA Romania No. 112/2018 Royal Decree 1112/2018 RPWD Act Russia - 2014 S.I. No. 358/2020 Section 255 - US Section 508 - US Singapore Slovenia - 2018 South Africa Spain - 2012 Stanca Law Standard MS 1183 Switzerland - 2002 Taiwan - 2021 Thailand Thailand - ICT Policy UDC UK - Public Sector United States - 2024 Vietnam WCAG Adoption Policy WCAG Compliance Mandate XIII-1590

Web Accessibility Policy in the Philippines

Overview

The Web Accessibility Policy in the Philippines ensures that government websites and digital services are accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities. The policy aims to remove barriers that prevent individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments from accessing online information and services. It aligns with international standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). It supports the country’s commitment to digital inclusion under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Key Provisions & Requirements

  1. Accessible Design Standards – Government websites must follow accessibility guidelines, such as:
    - Text alternatives (alt text) for images should be provided so that screen readers can describe them.
    - Ensuring keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
    - Offering transcripts or captions for audio and video content.
     
  2. Compliance Deadlines – The policy requires government agencies to adopt accessibility features and conduct regular audits. While specific deadlines may vary, agencies must comply as soon as possible to meet national and international standards.
     
  3. Training & Awareness – Web developers and government staff must receive training on accessible design practices to ensure long-term compliance.
     
  4. Monitoring & Enforcement – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) oversee implementation and may validate websites for accessibility.

Important Dates

  • The policy builds on earlier laws, such as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (1992) and Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (1983).
  • The Philippines ratified the UNCRPD in 2008, reinforcing the need for accessible ICT (Information and Communications Technology).
  • Recent updates, such as DICT Memorandum Circular No. 4 (2017), formalised WCAG 2.0 as the national standard for web accessibility.

Conclusion

This explanation simplifies the Web Accessibility Policy in the Philippines based on official documents. Refer to the official reference link or related government guidelines for full details.