Sensitivity Training for House of Reps’ Personnel with Disabilities
July 10, 2012
Take it from “Teacher Carla”. House of Reps Personnel learn tips on assisting persons with disabilities, from this vibrant SPED teacher ‘ón wheels’ Carla dela Cruz, cum laude BSEED graduate of Trinity University of Asia, now a classroom teacher in Commonwealth Elementary School. Shown on the right receiving her certificate of appreciation from Ms. Gertrude Pabelona, President of the HOR’s “Empowering Persons with Disabilities, Inc.” and some Congress officials, Carla was a consistent scholar in college and an American Field Service (AFS) exchange student in Poolesville High School, Maryland in 2004-2005. S her clincher, she shared that a wheelchair-user must be consulted first where he/she wants to go, and not to be maneuvered without consent, which was how they were treated for a long time.
NCDA Launches National Campaign on White Cane for School Children with Visual Impairment
June 11, 2012
Undersecretary Alicia R. Bala (center) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and concurrent Officer-in-Charge/Executive Director of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), takes the lead in the launching of a nationwide campaign to promote white cane and its distribution to school children with visual impairment held at the Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) in Pasay City. The distribution which also took place at the Batino Elementary School in Quezon City and Heneral Pio del Pilar SPED Center in Makati City, is a project of NCDA and DSWD in partnership with the Department of Education to intensify public awareness on the plight of visually impaired persons in the community and to promote respect and recognition of the white cane as an assistive device.
34th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week Celebration
May 28, 2012
Latest Updates:
Message from DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman
ANNOUNCEMENT
In celebration of the 34th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week on July 17 – 23 this year, the National Council on Disability Affairs hereby issues this Announcement on the matter aforesaid. It consist of the following:
Legal Basis: Proclamation No. 361 (2000), as amended by Administrative Order No. 35 (2002).
Theme: The celebration has adopted the theme “Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities in Economic Development.” This was conceptualized to contribute and promote the full employment of persons with disabilities and to tackle barriers and gaps, facilitate stakeholders’ cooperation, develop innovative approaches and support human rights-based initiatives for the economic development of persons with disabilities.
Proposed Activities and Schedules:
To drumbeat the weeklong celebration, various activities will be conducted as indicated hereunder:
1. July 17, 2012
– Thanksgiving and Holy Mass
– Stakeholders’ Forum
– Ribbon Cutting of the “Likhang PWD 2012” (Exhibit of artworks and products made by PWDs
2. July 18, 2012
– Paligsahan ng may “K” sa Kasaysayan at Kultura ng Pilipinas.
3. July 19, 2012
– Mobility Clinic
– Early Prevention of Children with Disabilities
– 1st Road Safety Seminar for Persons with Disabilities
4. July 20, 2012
– Orientation-Forum on Accessibility Law with Sensitivity Training
– Jobs Fair
5. July 21, 2012 –Nationwide Special Registration for PWD Voters
6. July 21, 2012 – Tree Planting
7. July 22, 2012 – M.O.V.E. Manila Run
8. July 23, 2012
– Entrepreneurship Appreciation Seminar
– Closing Ceremony
– Wreathlaying Ceremony on the Birthdate of Apolinarion Mabini
For more details on the celebration, please find attached the full Concept Paper and Calendar of Activities of the 2012 NDPR Week celebration. The NDPR Week Secretariat could be contacted thru Telephone Numbers 951-5013 and 932-6422 local 101, or thru Mr. Rizalio R. Sanchez, Mr. Mike Limon, Ms. Cely de Leon, and Ms. Jem Aguilar at Mobile Nos. 0920-9062306, 0920-9062296, 0920-9062287, and 09994801130, respectively, or you can email us at ncda@council.gov.ph.
ALICIA R. BALA
Undersecretary, DSWD
Officer-in-Charge/Executive Director
DILG Secretary Robredo Keynotes the Launch of the “Fully Abled Nation
May 16, 2012
DILG Secretary Robredo keynotes the Launching of the “Fully Abled Nation” on April 18, 2012, Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City.
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
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.
Now 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 4th, 5th and 6th 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 one should be left behind.
Thank you and congratulations.
MAKE THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION REAL FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
January 24, 2012
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Deputy Executive Director Mateo A. Lee, Jr. (3rd from left) presents a “PWD-Friendly Website Award” Certificate to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Vilma B. Cabrera in recognition of the Department’s compliance to the Web Accessibility Standards set by the Philippine Website Accessibility Group represented by its President, Mr. Remberto I. Esposa, Jr. (Extreme Left) and the National Computer Center-Information and Communications Technology Office. The ceremony, which also served as the launching of the DSWD’S PWD-Accessible Website was held last January 20, 2012 at its Central Office. Others in photo include (from left to right) NCDA’s Project Evaluation Officer Reginaldo Tolentino, DSWD Officer-in-Charge of Management Information Systems Service Felino O. Castro V, and DSWD Webmaster Manuelito C. Bongabong.