PERSONS with disability (PWDs) in New Lucena, Iloilo were given a new hope in life with the implementation of Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) project assisted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).
New Lucena Mayor-elect Liecel Seville said her municipality is the only town in Panay Island that was chosen as one of two pilot areas in the country for a four-year project slated October 2008 to September 2012.
The NHE project aims to make public places and facilities, such as church, market, government offices and other establishments, accessible to PWDs by providing at least five minimum requirements, including ramps, washroom and toilets, non-skid flooring, signage and parking area.
Aside from New Lucena, the municipality of Opol in Misamis Oriental will avail of P3.5 million to fund the projects.
Seville said her town, after extensive profiling, was able to register a total of 509 handicaps composed of orthopedic patients with mental disorder and those with chronic diseases.
New Lucena, a Hall of Fame national awardee as the Most Child-Friendly Municipality, is expected to enhance its development programs for persons with disability in cooperation with the regional council on disability affairs, which is composed of government agencies and non-government organizations with focus on PWDs' needs.
The NHE project aims to create barrier-free rural communities that will enhance social and physical accessibility for PWDs.
The United Architects of the Philippines Hamili Chapter in Iloilo and the Department of Public Works and Highways are expected to come up with a universal design that focuses on barrier-free lateral infrastructures.
In New Lucena, construction is already completed for a public toilet designed with ramps for PWDs. Construction, however, is ongoing for a P2.5 million two-storey building for PWDs and a children museum and library.
In her report, Seville said her town is lucky to be chosen to handle the NHE project after 19 towns in the country submitted their proposal as pioneering municipalities.
Seville is also proposing a 20 percent discount on medicines and other amenities to the PWDs on top of the discounts given to senior citizens, new restrooms in the barangays and wheelchair users, school rehabilitation for use of PWDs, access to other physical structures, and leadership training for the handicaps.
Seville was present during a media forum held at the New Lucena Polytechnic College on Thursday. The forum was also attended by Jica expert and chief advisor on NHE Daisuke Sagiya, Rizalino Sanchez of NCDA, Arch. Alberto Saclauso of DPWH-Western Visayas, Rebecca Gemala of Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas, and New Lucena PWD Association president Anthony Bangeles.