THE Davao City Government will start the screening for beneficiaries to receive free hearing aids on August 13.
Davao City Councilor April Marie Dayap during the Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong media forum held last Tuesday, August 8, encouraged those with hearing disabilities to file their registration for the program through the US-based Starkey Hearing Foundation.
The screening will be held until August 15.
Dayap said that a screening will be first conducted since not all are qualified to wear hearing aids.
“In December first week, the owner of Starkey Mr. William Austin and his whole team will come here to distribute hearing aids to all the recipients,” she added.
Dayap said that the recipients will also be given lifetime replacement of batteries for free.
“For example recipient siya by the time na maguba iyang hearing aide ilisan siya sa hearing foundation for free and kung mahurot ang battery, ilisan pud siya for free (For example if the hearing aids will be defective, it will be replaced by the hearing foundation for free, and if its batteries will run out, it will also be replaced for free,” she said.
Dayap said that part of the memorandum of agreement with Starkey and the City Government is putting up point persons under City Health Office that will cater only those who have concerns on their hearing aids.
She added that personnel, all the concerns for hearing will be coursed through them.
Dayap said that the only counterpart of the city for this project is the accommodation of the guests during the screening.
She said 400 people will be catered on the screening dates.
She added that those who will pre-register before 13 will be called to their office for their schedule on the allotted dates.
Deadline for the registration is August 9 at 5 p.m. For inquiries the recipients may call 09985782974 or 224-1780.
Dayap added that this is not only for those who are in Davao, but for the region and those who will avail are not necessarily required to be indigents.
“Dili necessarily indigent pero priority pero si mayor inday gina-emphasize jud niya ang mga bata but seniors are also welcome (Not necessarily indigent but Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio emphasized that the children should be prioritized but the seniors are also welcome),” she added.