THE Person With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) celebrated the 45th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week 2023, with the theme "Persons with Disabilities Accessibility and Rights: Towards a Sustainable Future Where No One is Left Behind" at SM City Davao on July 20.
The event provided various services for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the city, including a health and wellness caravan.
Several government agencies and organizations took part in the caravan, including the Department of Health (DOH), City Health Office (CHO), Rotary Club of Waling-waling Davao, Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine-Making Ourselves Vigilant to Exercise (PARM-MOVE), Fenixia Foundation Inc., Cherubs, Euro-Asia Emils Early Child Development (EAEECD), Parent's Mobilization Action Group (PMAG), UCCP Social Concerns, Tebow Cure Hospital, Philhealth, and the Person With Disability Affair Office (PDAO).
The PWDs also showcased their dancing and singing talents. They also competed in painting contests.
"Kini nga celebration, it will remind all of the Filipinos nga kinahanglan hatagan nato sila ug kanang pagtagad ug kinahanglan hatagan og value ang ilahang existing og existence sa atoang kalibutan (This celebration will remind all the Filipinos that we must give them that attention and must give value to their existing and existence in our world)," City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) officer-in-charge Julie Dayaday said.
At the event, CSWDO announced the launch of the free movie privilege for persons with disabilities in Davao City. Under this initiative, PWDs will receive a free weekly movie pass by presenting their identification cards and booklets.
While the movie passes are free for PWDs, their guardians will still be required to pay the full amount if they wish to accompany the PWD ID holder in the cinemas.
"Sa atoang PWD sector it's a great thing nga, great privilege sa ilaha ang libreng sine para pod once a while makarelax sila, maka suroy-suory sa mall ug you know ma feel nila bitaw nga part sila sa society (For our PWD sector, it's a great thing that the free movie is a great privilege for them so that once in a while they can relax, they can tour around the mall and you know they can feel that they are part of the society)," first District Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo said.
Dayaday, in an interview, bared that 10 malls in the city have committed to providing free cinema access to PWDs, and they aim to increase this number further.
She hopes that such caravans won't be limited to celebrations alone; their goal is to hold them at least four times a year, ensuring that PWDs can access various services offered by both government and non-government agencies.
Meanwhile, PDAO has scheduled its leadership training on July 21 and the legal aid caravan for PWDs on July 22. (RGP)