SECRETARY JESSE M. ROBREDO

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Launching of Fully Abled Nation

18 April 2012 2:00PM Makati Shangri-La, Ayala cor. Makati Ave., Mkt. City

(Preliminary greetings..)

Congratulations to the launching of Fully Abled Nation, I believe that a program seeking to increase the participation of PWDs in the coming 2013 Philippine midterm elections is truly a revolutionary one.

Most people assume that disability is only a social welfare concern. It is in fact, a human rights issue.

While we need special lanes or walkways, buildings with wider doorways, and other facilities for PWDs, there is something equally important that is often overlooked – and that is the right to vote. We know how difficult it is for persons with disability (PWDs) to exercise their right to suffrage.

According to an SWS survey of PWDs and Filipino adults, there was a drop in the participant of PWDs in elections. The number of PWDs who voted in 2007 decreased from 60% down to 54% in 2010. Those who registered but did not vote rose from 14% to 21%. On the other hand, some 22% PWDs of voting age did not even bother to register.

Among those who did not vote in the 2010 elections, 17%  were ashamed to vote because of their disability, another 17% because of mobility problems, 16% because they were either sick or bedridden, and 10% because nobody would shade or read the ballot for them.

PPCRV Chair Henrietta de Villa estimated around 9-Million Filipinos are PWDs, and some 2.6-Million to 3-Million are in fact, qualified to vote. However, COMELEC only has 742,228 registered PWDs in its records as of January 2012.

However despite their number, and the COMELEC special registration of PWDs, many PWDs still find it difficult to register and vote because of the different and difficult circumstances they face.

I agree with COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento that we need more registration sites, more accessible polling precincts, perhaps ballots printed in Braille, sign language interpreters for PWDs, among others, to be able to help PWDs exercise their right to vote.

It is true that PWDs have continuously pounded on the table for everyone to take notice. It was the community of the disabled themselves who worked tirelessly and insistently to promote their rights.

I have always rallied behind this cause because I am no stranger to PWDs. My father is blind. He had been stricken with a rare eye ailment and has been blind ever since I was four years old. Since the ailment is hereditary, three of my siblings are also blind. Visual impairment runs in the family.

That’s why when I say I know how you feel, I really mean it.

As a former mayor of Naga, we have given PWDs a voice by giving them a seat at the table. We made sure that PWDs are represented in the Naga City People’s Council so that we can listen and respond to their needs.

Before I left as mayor, we have already set up a resource center for the blind in the city, where we have books in Braille and a computer program which allows them to use the Internet.

No as the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, I have pursued several initiatives to promote the rights and welfare of PWDs. Local governments units (LGUs) must pay attention to the needs of PWDs.

In September 2010, I have issued a memorandum to all governors, city and municipal mayors to create PDAO of Persons with Disability Affairs Office. LGUs are mandated by the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons to organize and establish PDAO in every province, city and municipality.

Section 4 of RA 10070 provides for the allocation of LGU funds from local revenues for the implementation of PDAO activities and for the PDAO funding to be included in the LGUs Annual Plans and Budget.

In consideration of budget constraints, mayors of 4^th, 5^th and 6^th class municipalities, in lieu of the creation of a PDAO, may designate a PWD focal person who shall perform the functions of the PDAO.

My directive requires the PDAO or the PWD Focal person to formulate and implement policies, plans and programs for promotion of welfare of PWDs. It requires them to coordinate and implement the provision of RA 10070 or the Magna Carta; Batas Pambansa344 or the Accessibility Law; and other relevant laws at the local level.

They are also tasked to: One, gather and compile statistics and relevant data on PWDs in their localities; Two, disseminate information on programs and activities for PWDS including children with disability; and Three, train and create employment opportunities, among others.

Likewise, LGUs are to create a Local Council or Committee for the Welfare of Disabled Persons.

The Department has also issued a memorandum circular as early as 2009 calling all local chief executives (LCEs) to establish health desks in their rural health units to attend to the health needs of PWDs. These desks should be manned by rural health officers (RHOs) to take care of PWDs. RHOs are to submit reports on a regular basis to the Department of Health (DOH) on the number of persons served and other relevant details.

We are one with you in your aspirations for our PWDs. We will reiterate all these directives and come up with a monitoring mechanism this year to push for full compliance across all LGUs in the country.

The DILG wants to achieve PWD-responsive LGUs. Those that put premium on the welfare and protection of the rights of the PWDs as well as mainstreaming of disability issues within their jurisdiction.

I know that this advocacy cannot move without funding. So, to achieve this goal, e have to intensify capacity building of local officials and provide funds for training programs for PWDs; mainstream disability concerns in the local planning, programming, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and local legislation; intensify advocacy on existing laws related to PWDs rights and privilege and push for LGUs’ compliance; and allocate a percentage of LGUs budgets provided for in Sections 33 and 34 of GAA, for the implementation of plans, programs and projects for PWDs as well as promote their participation in elections and other democratic processes.

There is much work that remains to be done to produce results. While we don’t have a magic wand to make them all happen overnight, I assure you that the government and may concerned groups and individuals are working tirelessly to break the barriers for people with disabilities.

Thank you to Asia Foundation and to the Australian AID for your support. The collaboration of the Foundation with our Disabled Peoples Organizations, COMELEC, PPCRV, LGUs, NGOs and CSOs partners and other stakeholders are also key to the success of the program. Our concerted efforts should include vigorous campaign for our lawmakers to push for the rights of PWDs to vote.

All of us have the moral duty to break barriers for people with disabilities. For societies to truly function, no once should be left behind.

Thank you and congratulations.

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The New Vois Association (NVA)-Health Justice (HJ) tandem invites disability advocates with or without disabilities from self-help groups and GO/NGO partners, to a half day session on Video-Film Making on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 9 A.M.

This project to be held on #1 Fuentes Drive North Susana Executive Village, Quezon City,  aims to spur public awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly the “RIGHT TO HEALTH”, supportive of the “UN-Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.

For details, please contact/confirm with Ms. Volet Rojas at mobile no. 09228922850, since this is on a “first-come-first-served basis.

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On the upper left corner, the  “Filipino participants to the 2011 Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship” standing from the left Ms. Lila Simon (NCDA), Mr. Romeo Mina (DepED), Ms. Susita Bulawit (DILG), Mr. Vincent Sacriz (QUT, Australia), Ms. Florita Bisco (NCDA) and Mr. Mike Limon (NCDA). Sitting from the left Ms. Josephine Despi (NCDA), Capt. Oscar Taleon (AKaPinoy), Ms. Daylinda Taleon (AKaPinoy) and Ms. Gertrude Pabelona (HOR).

            On the lower right corner, the “NCDA Officers with Vincent” standing from the left, Ms. Josephine Despi, Mr. Vincent Sacriz, Deputy Executive Director Mr. Mateo A. Lee, Jr., Ms. Nelia De Jesus, Ms. Ruth Tacujan, Ms. Marlu Evangelista, Ms. Cynthia Barriga and Ms. Leovigilda Oasin.

In town to monitor the Pinoy Fellows’ post-training accomplishments, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Mr. Vincent Sacriz, mentor and training coordinator of the 2011 Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship re-united with the 2011 Filipino Fellows on April 19, 2012 at the NCDA to monitor the group’s progress.

To sustain QUT-NCDA collaboration, Mr. Sacriz also met with NCDA Officers headed by its Deputy Executive Director for an update on the current and future Project Proposals under AusAID and invited the Council to submit relevant proposals for latter’s consideration.

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Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG), NCDA’s online advocacy group on web accessibility,  represented by its President and MCCID Institute of Technology Training Director Mr. Jojo Esposa,  as  Resource Person,  shares hands-on techniques to make websites accessible to persons with disabilities .

IFES Philippines’ Project Officer Ms. Mae Butoy  warmly  welcomed everybody to fast break  COMELEC’s “PWD-friendly” website for  disability-inclusive elections.  Held for COMELEC’s IT Team at the Bayleaf Intramuros on March 22, 2012, this was in tandem with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG).

NCDA-Technical Cooperation Division Chief Nelia de Jesus thanked IFES Coordinator Mae Butoy for sponsoring the training that gave momentum to COMELEC’s initial efforts to bolster registration of voters with disabilities.  This year, the Council will hold similar workshops for other GOs and selected LGUs, to expand web accessibility of citizens with disabilities to government’s programs and services.

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The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has not just been helping develop PWDs and partners through overseas scholarships. It has also spurred active participation of women with disabilities and support groups in local fora on the rights of PWDs.

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) was one of the sponsors of the collaborated activity during the celebration of the “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” on December 3, 2011. The Council, through the National Steering committee created five (5) Thematic Sub-Groups to mark the celebration.  One of these groups is the “Sub-Group on Gender: Including Women and Girls with Disabilities, chaired by Ms. Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga, President, WOWLEAP.

Ms. Zubiaga led the “Leadership Training for Women with Disabilities in Advocacy and Orientation on Gender and Development Programming at the Community Level” held at Bayview Hotel on November 23-24, 2011 attended by women and girls with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities and Focal Persons from various regions. The activity trained participants to lead advocacy initiatives and collaborations with partners in government and private sector towards empowerment of women and children with disabilities.

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The country will take part in the global celebration of the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on April 2 with the theme “ Make the Right Real for Persons with Autism”.

Now on its 5^th year, the Philippine government thru the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) leads this annual event celebration in cooperation with other government agencies and non-government organizations and the civil society groups.

Special activities have been lined up to observe WAAD in the Philippines. This include the (1) “Forum on the Supportive of Environment of Persons with Autism” at the DENR Social Hall, Visayas,  Quezon City; (2) “Art, Photo and Product Exhibits of Persons with Autism,”  DENR Social Hall, Visayas, Quezon City; and (3) “Light It Up Blue” Ceremony of the SM Mall of Asia’s Iconic Globular Light Emitting Diode (LED) with messages and images for Autism awareness and as a support for the LIUB campaign of Autism Speaks of the USA which leads the global celebration of the WAAD.

The United Nations General Assembly thru Resolution 62/139 issued on December 18, 2007 declared April2 of every year starting in 2008 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). The declaration invites UN Member States, relevant organizations, civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in order to raise public awareness about autism throughout society. The celebration of the Day brings to the world’s attention to promote autism, a pervasive intellectual disorder that affects millions of the human population worldwide.

A global statistics on human population shows a high prevalence of autism with a ratio of 1:00, which means that in a population of 100 individuals, one (1) is affected with it. With this prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and consequent development challenges to long-term health care, education, training and intervention programs undertaken by Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as well as its  tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies, such alarming condition, there is really a need to take measures to raise awareness on autism throughout the society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or simply “autism,” is a lifelong development disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life and results from neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, mostly affecting children in many countries irrespective of gender, race of socio-economic status, and characterized by impairments in social interaction, problems with verbal and non-verbal communications and restricted, repetitive behavior, interests and activities.

Schedule of Activities

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Led by DSWD Secretary and NCDA Chairperson Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, the NCDA team alongside other agency representatives, made 500 polybags of godon and narra, to help green the devastated Marikina Watershed, in San Juan, Antipolo last March 8, 2012.  One team worked with Sitio Sapinit women while another team worked with women from Barangay Calawis, Antipolo.

Following the seedling potting and catchy beat of the MMDA Band, a series of speakers tackled in a forum, the crucial role of women with this year’s theme, “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance, Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility,”

Photos of NCDA staff with DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman during the Women’s Month Celebration in Antipolo, Rizal

Keynote Speaker Secretary Soliman underscored the role of women, who she dubbed as “weavers of relationships and movements”, in their contributions in taking care of water, shade and food.  Women’s involvement is crucial, in making government strategies more effective and sustainable.

She commended the Sapinit Watershed Settlers Association led by its president Grace Tepesa. Founded in 2003, this group of Sitio Sapinit women set up a nursery of narra and mahogany seedlings, in sync with the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. They tilled the land, prepared the watershed, and planted the seedlings. They are organized and systematic, and considered as a powerful force in their community.

Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Remedios Ignacio-Rikken stressed the proper implementation of “Republic Act 10121” which allots funds for Disaster Risk Reduction. Concerned with the lack of risk-reducing initiatives at the local government level, Ms. Rikken urged local officials not to bank on recovery alone, but to “plan to reduce disaster risks”, giving “women and men equal access to information on mitigating and adapting to climate change.”

This was confirmed by Office of Civil Defense Director Edgardo Ollet, who shared that most of Typhoon Sendong’s casualties and the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Negros Oriental last February were women whose roles are “exemplified in family setting.”   Disaster risk reduction planning must be focused on intensifying household preparedness, survival skills and livelihood capability – building for women.

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Silent Woodcraft is owned and managed by Ms.  Lovella Acuyong and Mr. Kent Zurbano. Both of them are deaf gifted with talents and skills in arts and craft. They produce an array of wall decors and souvenir items made of wood like palo china and other materials.

PRODUCT LINE:       

Wood Craft/ Display/ Souvenir Items

CONTACT INFO:

• Business Name                        :           Silent Woodcraft
• Business Owner’s Name         :           Louella Acuyong
• Business Complete Address   :           4766 Road 4 V. Mapa, Sta. Mesa Metro Manila
• Contact Person (2)                  :           Louella Acuyong
• Cellphone Number                  :           09158730975

PHOTOS/PRICES:

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In this connection, COMELEC shall conduct satellite registrations for PWDs based on the following schedules:

MARCH – Visayas

APRIL – Mindanao

MAY – Luzon including NCR and CAR

JULY – Nationwide

This event aims to encourage thousands of PWDs to register and for those who are already registered, to update their records at the local COMELEC offices or in selected locations for satellite registrations.

Download a copy of the proposed registration sites for Visayas. Comelec will be giving the list for other regions as soon as possible.

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Please click this link for the complete report: Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Accomplishment Report

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• INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID