Treat PWDs equally in terms of access to programs and services, employment opportunities, RCDA chairperson says

Gideon C. Corgue

ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 23—The Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA-9) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-9) celebrated the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week with RCDA member-agencies and local government unit of Zamboanga City at KCC Mall here recently.

Riduan Hadjimuddin, the regional director of DSWD and RCDA-9 chairperson said that it is very important for the offices of the national and local governments and the community to celebrate the NDPR week every year to increase the level of awareness of the public on the rights, privileges and interests of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

"This is one indicator that we acknowledge the presence of our brothers and sisters with disabilities but more so, we need to understand why we go through all these efforts to promote awareness of the rights of our PWDs and their interests, as well."

Hadjimuddin added that the right of inclusion of the PWDS in all aspects of the development relies heavily on the support of the society in treating them equally in terms of access to programs and services, employment opportunities.

"We are here together to help our PWD brothers and sisters to achieve their goal of mainstreaming programs and services in the community so that there will be inclusivity and no more discrimination against them," he added.

Meanwhile, Miriam Llanos, the national president of the League of PDAO of the Philippines in her message said that she observed that the right to inclusivity and equality has not been fully implemented in the LGUs saying that Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 which requires buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and devices that can be used by PWDs is not included in some of the newly built buildings.

Llanos, however, is happy that several line agencies of the government, barangay organizations and other sectors attended the opening program so that they can help promote the full implementation of laws for PWDs such as RA 10070 and Batas Pambansa No.344, and others.

In the same event, the 17-year-old champion of the National IT challenge for Youth with Disabilities from Dao-an National High School in the town of San Miguel who is also a qualifier in the Global IT Challenge in the United Arab Emirates shared his success story as a PWD.

The motorcade was also held around the major thoroughfare of the city and as well as the provision of free services from the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Employment, Commission on Human Rights and free general consultation of the Zamboanga City Medical Center. (GCC/KBP-Zamboanga del Sur)