Baguio City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its partner government agencies in the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA) have committed to firm up efforts to empower the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) sector in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
This was given emphasis during the Mid-Year Program Evaluation by the Regional Federation of PWD (RFPWD) held at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Training Center on July 2.
DSWD-CAR Focal Person on PWD Rojhelea Claur, said that the DSWD – CAR and its partners are geared on strengthening partnerships for a more collaborative approach in addressing prevailing issues of the PWD sector. “Issues and concerns of the sector are multi-faceted which need a holistic approach. These can be addressed by the various agencies only if service delivery adopts more coordinated and collaborative strategies.” Claur added
“Aside from the government agencies, we also have our partners Civil Society Organizations such as the Rotary Club Summer Capital Chapter”, Claur noted. DSWD, in partnership with the Rotary Club has facilitated in the distribution of four (4) Personal Energy Transportation (P.E.T) devices to PWD beneficiaries including Avelino and Presca Tomas of Baguio City. “Dati kasi crutches at braces and gamit namin, kaya medyo mahirap gumalaw. Ngayon naman wheelchair at itong PET. Hopefully, mas makakatulong ito sa mobility namin. Sa tingin ko maganda itong gamitin sa bahay’, Presca shared.
P.E.T devices were donated by the Rotary International targeting to help PWDs with orthopedic disabilities who are involved in gainful employment or other activities which requires mobility.
Meanwhile, RFPWD President Cecelia Calizar encouraged the PWDs to galvanize PWD empowerment. “Ipakita natin na may kakayahan tayo, may talento at huwag mahiya,” she said.
Calizar shared that in Tabuk City, PWDs are convened in regular meetings to encourage them to develop their potentials and become empowered through engaging into livelihood activities. “The DSWD along with partner government agencies have been assisting us in our activities and programs while the Local Government Units give us counterpart financial subsidy”, she said.
The RFPWD mid-year program evaluation was participated in by provincial federation presidents and officers, and focal persons of PWD associations in the region. It was also conducted in preparation for the regional celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week on 17-23 July 2014.
As of June 2014, there are already 22 PWDs who were provided either with assistive devices, financial or medical assistance. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT
