Sunday, July 20, 2008 Opportunities for PWDs sought
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Inocencio Magtoto Foundation (IMF) have asked the private sector and the local government to provide opportunities for employment and development of persons with disabilities (PWD).
According to Adelina Apostol, DSWD assistant regional director, PWDs should be given equal opportunity for employment and personal development. This was seconded by IMF, a non-profit organization for PWDs, during the celebration of the Person's with Disabilities Week at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga over the weekend.
Apostol said the celebration also called for the advocacy of providing PWDs with basic opportunities for employment. She added that most PWDs cope with their respective responsibilities and can work efficiently.
She lamented that despite the strict government advocacy and policy on discrimination of PWDs, some sectors of the community are still not open to provide opportunities to them.
The foundation said PWDs could also excel in informal jobs like working on crafts and retailing while at home.
The Provincial Sub-Committee on the Welfare of People with Disability has also lined up events for the week. Among them are the Techno-Demo (Women with Disabilities Day) at Atrium, Robinsons Starmills last Saturday, Forum on the Rights of PWDs at Benigno Aquino Hall on Sunday, and the Stakeholders Advocacy Forum on the rights and privileges of PWDs as enshrined under Republic Acts 7277 and 9442 on Wednesday.
