WITH families and friends, persons with disabilities (PWD) gathered together to celebrate the International Day of PWDs at Limketkai Atrium on Tuesday, December 6.
The celebration opened with an annual Walk for a Cause where about 1,300 PWDs joined in to walk from Kiosko Kagawasan to Limketkai.
The Federation of Persons with Disabilities and the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), the event organizers, initiated the walk as a fund-raising activity which aims to further assist the needs of PWDs in Cagayan de Oro City.
"More than anything, through the 'Walk for a Cause' and this program here in the Atrium, we want to forward to everyone that Persons with Disabilities have the same rights and privileges like those of people without disabilities," Melagros Maquiling of PDAO said.
After the walk, the event's organizers in cooperation with the City Social Welfare and Development held a program at the Limketkai Atrium bringing together the different subsectors of the PWD population in Cagayan de Oro.
"The participants of this event are from various groups of PWDs in the city. Present today are those PWDs who have invisible disabilities or non-apparent disabilities like epileptics and we also have those who have physical & mobility impairments such as those who are deaf, blind, unable to walk and others," Maquiling said.
Maquiling said the biggest challenge today for PWDs anywhere is the discrimination coming from the community. She said that it is inevitable that there is an existing stigma that when “you are a PWD you are helpless, poor or useless.”
"That is why programs like these are being spearheaded by our offices so that these people will have a sense of belonging to something. What makes it harder for PWDs actually is not the disability itself but the discrimination that they are getting from others. That is why families, friends, and all of those surrounding PWDs should make sure that they receive love and support," she said.
She said another reason to celebrate is the recent approval of the implementing rules and regulations of the Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability by Secretary Judy Taguiwalo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
With this, PWDs will get the same benefits as those of the senior citizens. It was signed last Thursday, December 1.
RA 10754 will give more privileges to PWDs such as a 20 percent discount on the purchases of goods and services from lodging establishments, restaurants, recreation centers, purchase of medicines and food for special medical purposes, medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees, professional fees of attending doctors, domestic air and sea travel, land transportation travel, and funeral and burial services.
It will also cover educational assistance for social insurance, special discounts in the purchase of basic necessities and access to express lanes and government establishments. It also provides tax incentives for those caring and living with PWDs up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, as long as the person is treated as dependent.
The law will also require all establishments and land transportation groups to install signage to promote the benefits and privileges for PWDs. Signage should be placed within their premises and in public utility vehicles.
"This is indeed a Christmas gift to all of us, PWDs because we know that there is such a body of people who still mind the things that will be for our benefit," Maquiling said.
Today, there are about 3,000 identified PWDs in the city. However, Maquiling said that the Department of Health and other bodies concerned with the statistics of the PWD population should do more in finding them.
"It takes a long time indeed before we receive data from the DOH about the number of PWDs in the area. That is why we are asking not only the DOH but all the other organizations to put more into finding these PWDs because it is only through finding them that we can help them," she said.
The program also honored partner stakeholders from the different government offices, the business sector, academic institutions, and private entities who helped PDAO and the Federation of Persons with Disabilities in their projects for the city's PWDs.
These partners were commended for their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that can help create a more inclusive and equitable world for Persons with Disabilities.
On the other hand, the participants were delighted with the celebration and hoped that more events will acknowledge their presence in the community for the next years.
"It is heart-warming indeed to find so many PWDs like this in one area. Personally, as a school teacher I put so much effort in hiding my condition but this event made me realize how blessed I am and that for every disability, there is an acquired ability," Henry Caasin, a PWD with epilepsy from Barangay Gusa said.
Eight-year-old Gelly Abellanosa also felt a different kind of hearfelt gratitude. She has been confined in her wheelchair ever since birth because of a birth defect in her legs.
"I got to spend time and play with other children like me today and because of that, I am happy," she said.
As part of PDAO, Maquiling said that she is very proud of the participants of the e vent, more than anything.
"I am happy about the courage that the PWDs are showing. To participate in this event and showing yourself is a true sign of acceptance and of believing that you matter as a person. With this, I am calling for all PWDs to reach out to all others there who are afraid or ashamed of their situation. By this, we could all help one another and pass on this legacy to future PWDs," she said.