By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – Discrimination is a fact of life for many groups of persons with
disabilities (PWDs), but to some, discrimination was no longer felt when the
national government implemented Republic Act No. 9442, otherwise known as Magna
Carta for Persons with Disability.
Social Welfare Officer Saramea
Ubpon, Focal person for PWD said in a recent media forum conducted by the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at Anastacia Pension House here that the
city government had implemented pertinent provisions of the said law by granting
the rights and privileges of PWDs.
Ubpon said the City Social Welfare
and Development Office (CSWDO) provided the PWDs with following programs and
services: information dissemination of disability prevention advocacy,
assistance to physical restoration, social and vocational preparation for
employment services, issuance of PWD IDs, community based and integrated
restoration program, medical intervention, among others.
Ubpon added the city government has
employed 21 PWDs - six are permanent while 15 are casual. “They are all
employed in the different offices of the city hall,” she stressed.
Evelyn Bunsucan, a
permanent employee of the city treasurer’s office expressed her thanks to the
government for allowing her to work despite her disability. “With the Magna
Carta for Persons with Disability, I was able to overcome certain obstacles for
it has given me an equal opportunity for employment,” Bunsucan said in a local
dialect.
Bunsucan started to work
in 1982 and is now planning to retire in 2018 due to health reasons.
Elna Laguitao–Dopio, 43, a
polio victim said she is grateful to the local government unit for implementing
the provisions of the law, benefiting the PWDs in the area.
Dopio, a casual employee
detailed at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) was employed as clerk
since 1983 up to present.
“Nalipay
ko nga gihatagan ko sa kagamhanan ug kahigayonan nga makatrabaho bisan pa sa
akong gihambin nga kabilinggan sa lawas,” Laguitao said.
(I am grateful that I was
given an opportunity by the government to work despite my disability.)
Like many people with
disabilities, Dopio possessed an indomitable spirit, and she refused to let her
physical challenges get in the way of achieving his goals.
Dopio said it is her dream
to be a permanent employee of the city government.
Meanwhile, Virginia
Almirol, PESO head, said she was impressed with the work ethic of Elna.
“I
am proud and impressed with the work ethic of Elna. She is an efficient and
productive employee. She works with minimal supervision and she knows how to
entertain clients,” Almirol assessed.