The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognizes the significant contributions of persons with disability in nation-building through its support to the observance of the 44th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week on July 17-23, 2022.
With the theme, “Pamahalaan Kabalikat sa Pagtupad ng Pantay na Edukasyon, Trabaho, at Kabuhayan, Tugon sa Pagpapalakas ng Taong may Kapansanan” or “Working with Government in Achieving Equal Access to Education, Employment, and Livelihood Towards Empowerment of Persons with Disability,” the celebration aims to support initiatives towards disability prevention and rehabilitation for the effective integration of persons with disability into the mainstream society.
One of the notable organizations of persons with disability that the DSWD supports is the Talisayan Municipal Federation of Persons with Disability from Misamis Oriental.
Through the help of their local government and other national government agencies, the association was introduced to skills training of bamboo tiles and planks production in 2015. Later on, they diversified into Bilao making, and during Christmas season, they ventured to lantern-making through the production of parols.
“Ang mga women, pwede sila dito. Kay apil naman ang guardians and parents sa atong mga children with special needs” (The women can have their activities in that facility since guardians and parents of our children with special needs are also part of the association), said Spencer Rosabal, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO).
When their main client for their Bilao products stopped getting orders from them, the women- members of the association took the initiative to sell kakanins to use their products and have extra source of income.
“Dili man masulbad ang among mga problema, among mga panginhananglan, at least sa among kaugalingon, naa na mi nahibaw-an, mga ideas, nga kung mag trabaho mi dinhi sa bamboo hub, dili man namo ma provide tanan sa among pamilya, naa na mi kaya. Kabalo na paghimo sa mga products, kaysa wala gyud” (We may not be able to solve all our problems, our needs, at least on our part, we have learned something and we have the ideas. Working here in the bamboo hub, we may not provide everything for our family, we know we’re able somehow. We can create products, compared to knowing nothing at all,) said Raquel Rayon, a person with disability member and MSWDO staff.
Recently, the persons with disability association received livelihood assistance from a partner agency to purchase new blades for their machinery as well as additional equipment for their bamboo hub operations. Acquiring more training is also part of their plan.
“Training gyud among kinahanglan aron pag haniti aning bamboo tiles ug planks” (We need enough training to make quality bamboo tiles and planks), shared Abnerio Ucat, Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) President.
“We want to engage the families of our persons with disability. So while the men work in the bamboo hub, the women can make another income-generating activity at the sheltered facility,” said Rosabal.
The perseverance and dedication shown by the members of the Talisayan Municipal Federation of Persons with Disability are testaments that disabilities are not hindrances in achieving success.
The DSWD will continue to support initiatives under the whole-of-government approach to break the barriers that hinder the realization of the full potentials of persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the week long NDPR celebration will highlight activities related to family development support for persons with disability, education, employment, livelihood, and health, among others. The celebration is spearheaded by the National Council on Disability Affairs, an attached agency of the DSWD. ###
