THE City Government of Davao reaffirmed its commitment to support persons with disabilities and take the lead in the implementation of programs for them.
Acting Mayor Paolo Duterte signed last week Proclamation No. 1, which declared the observance of the 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week from July 17 to 23.
"The City Government will always have a heart for persons with disabilities and as local leaders, we will provide them with the opportunities that will enable them to become productive citizens," Duterte said.
He said many persons with disabilities are willing and able to make themselves productive, but the lack of equal opportunities for them makes their situation more challenging.
"These people and their families are often marginalized and we want to address this by providing them employment for those who are able," he said.
Groups of Persons with Disability (PWD) will hold several activities for the 30th National Disability Celebration.
The event is an annual week- long celebration hosted by different organizations of PWD, namely, Association of Differently Abled Persons Inc. (Adap), the Blind Association, Deaf Association, and the Parents with special children.
The President of Adap, Naprey Almario, said in an interview with Sun.Star that this celebration is all about showcasing their products, talents, and services of PWDs so that the public will know that they are existing.
"This is the time kasi to invite public na if you have friends or family na member ng PWD they can actually join us kasi once you join the group magiging empowered ka (This is the time to invite the public when they have friends or family member that is a PWD, they can actually join us because once you join the group, you will be empowered," Almario said.
The groups, for their first day yesterday held a Livelihood products exhibit at the City Council.
According to Almario, the exhibit aims to showcase the products made by PWDs with their different organization.
Other activities include Forum on Laws for PWDs on Wednesday, July 20, and culmination and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing with the NCCC Cares Foundation on Friday, July 22.
Still on Wednesday, the groups will hold PWD Got Talent which Almario expected to be attended by more people and more PWD participants from the different schools like the Special Education (SPED).
"This is to showcase their talents, we’re not really promoting competition kasi ang magsayaw man yung may mga Down Syndrome, so all of them are already winners (This is to showcase their talents, we’re not really promoting competition because the one who will perform are those with down syndrome, so all of them are already winners)," Almario explained.
According to Almario, there was really a difficulty in hosting this year's celebration compared to the previous years and the number of participants decreased.
"Medyo konti lang ang nag participate ngayon kasi nahirapan tayo, kasi di ‘banga umalis na si Mayor [Rodrigo Duterte], so because of the transition of the Admin, medyo mahirap mag send ng letters and nahirapan sa financial support from them (There were quite few participants now because we have some difficulties, so because of the transition of the Administration, sending letters and asking for financial support have been quite difficult)," Almario said.
But he said, what’s important is that the PWDs are able to gather as one group again.
“Anyway, we could host those activities anytime as long as we see no problem with the new Administration or the local government," he added. (Lyka Amethyst Casamayor/MSU Intern/And Viannah Angelica Merquita/UIC Intern/With CCC)