The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) highlighted the agency’s community-based interventions for persons with disabilities during an online workshop organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in coordination with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) last Tuesday (May 6).
According to Director Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin, KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager, the DSWD continues to advocate disability inclusion and empowerment through the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) – Cash for Work Program for Persons with Disabilities (CFWP-PWD) modality.
“Persons with disabilities who belong to economically poor and vulnerable communities/sectors are eligible to directly participate in the program. In cases where the person with disability cannot participate due to physical limitations, a family member or guardian can act as the alternate worker, as long as they meet the program’s qualifications for participation,” Director Mapue-Joaquin explained in her presentation during the workshop.
One of the program’s beneficiaries who provided a testimonial was Carlota Go from Valenzuela City.
“I am truly grateful for the CFWP-PWD program because the support we received is a big help for us. During my 20 days of duty, I forgot that I have a disability. It made me feel normal,” Carlota said.
The KALAHI-CIDSS program manager said Carlota’s statement is one of the proofs that the CFWP-PWD program preserves human worth and dignity, while accessing support from the government.
Director Mapue-Joaquin explained that the beneficiaries did not only receive financial aid but also psychosocial support via monitoring, counseling, community dialogue, career development pathing, job fairs, referrals, and training partnerships to promote long-term economic empowerment.
The program has successfully served 306,850 families with persons with disabilities and has disbursed Php1.185 billion in financial aid in 17 regions, 59 provinces, and 407 municipalities across the country.
Director Mapue-Joaquin said the CFWP-PWD is set to expand this year to serve 18,197 families across 16 regions, 39 provinces, and 105 municipalities, with a total allocation of Php90.025 million.
Aside from the CFWP-PWD, the KALAHI-CIDSS official introduced the ‘TheraFee’, which expands the program’s reach to persons with disabilities beyond current deployment areas. This initiative brings the program to their homes, and will be operational in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), an attached agency of the DSWD.
The ‘TheraFee’ aims to monetize unpaid care work and to provide direct assistance to persons with permanent total disabilities.
The ASEAN workshop served as a venue for sharing best practices, building stakeholder capacity, and fostering collaboration across member-states, a larger effort to promote disability inclusion and rights aligned with the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan and other ASEAN regional initiatives. (AKDL)