By Alma L. Tingcang
PAGADIAN CITY, July 19 - - - As
the whole nation observes the 34th National Disability Prevention
and Rehabilitation Week with the theme, “Mainstreaming Persons with Disability
in Economic Development,” activities in Pagadian City started with radio
guesting of the Department of Labor and Employment which spearheads this year’s
celebration, together with Hangop Kabataan Foundation Inc. (HKFI), a
community-based rehabilitation center for special children.
On Monday, a motorcade was held
around the city with the participation of stakeholders and concerned government
agencies after which a brief program was held at the HKFI Center in Gatas
District.
“Civil society organizations are
working with renewed vigor towards the goal of equality following the adoption
of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” Ms. Dinah B. Marasigan,
Vice President of the Executive Board of HKFI said in her opening message.
Marasigan said there are
approximately 650 million persons with disabilities in the world, or 10% of the
global population. Efforts to incorporate persons with disabilities into
economic development activities have been gaining momentum over the past
decades.
Thus, she said the integration of
persons with disabilities in all development efforts should not be limited to
the benefits they can derive from development alone. Rather, is it also
imperative that they are increasingly
represented in management activities of
organizations at all levels.
Factors in ensuring that PWDs
benefit from development on an equal basis with others include promotion of
decent work, access to education and training, access to micro-credit schemes
and entrepreneurial opportunities as well as better health care.
DOLE Assistant Regional Director
Virginia L. Bonbon ably represented by Ms. Lourdes Floriza said, “As partners,
I believe we can help improve the living condition of our differently-abled
brothers and sisters. DOLE has the so-called TULAY 2000 or the Tulong Alalay sa
Taong May Kapansanan Program.”
“This aims to assist in the integration of persons with
disabilities into the society by providing them access to training and
employment opportunities both in the formal and informal sector,” ARD Bonbon
said in her message.
“Actually, we have projects in the
municipalities: for Pitogo, Tigbao, Tambulig, Mahayag and Midsalip – Cattle
Raising and Dispersal; Bayog – Broiler and Layering Production managed by the Kapisanan ng May Kapansanan sa Bayog
and the latest to receive is Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur with 6 beneficiaries
of the Kabuhayan Starter Kit amounting to P60,000 for the PWDs,” she further
added.
A medical-dental outreach was also
held yesterday to benefit the students of HKFI Center. The doctors who made
themselves available and rendered commendable service to the differently-abled
sector of society were the following: Dr. Gemma Dacanay-Santos – President of
the Yllana Doctors Association; Dr. Corazon Soriano-Punzalan – President of the
Philippine Dental Association ZDS Chapter; Dr. Gennie Cabrera; Dr. Vicente
Cajoy; Dr. Minelio Yosoya; Divine Grace Orong – nurse and Joefel Mae Soriano –
dental aide.
A total of 70 persons availed of
the medical-dental outreach who were provided with free medicines. The HKFI is
managed by Admin-In-Charge Virginia B. Pestanas with 8 teachers and support
staff. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)