Capitol, LDS Partner for Wheelchair Project

Differently-abled, less-fortunate Cebuanos will soon have access to mobility as the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Charities partners with Cebu Provincial Government for the former’s wheelchair project.

This is a joint project that aims to provide mobility, health, and educational opportunities to the differently-abled sector of society.

LDS donated 300 regular wheelchairs and rough riders for rough and uneven terrains to the Province.

The Province, on the other hand, handles the assessors’ training and distribution of the wheelchairs.

“We chose Cebu (as one of our partners) because based on our requirements for this project, we saw that the Provincial Government is ready for this,” said LDS Elder Dennis Smith.

Provincial Social Welfare OIC Ro Zosa said that with the assessors’ training done already, wheelchairs distribution to the communities will start immediately.

Around 30 volunteers joined the training on how to properly assess the individual needs, select and fit wheelchairs as well as help in the maintenance of the said wheelchairs.

“The wheelchairs are LDS’ initial commitment to the partnership. There is a plan to expand and venture into providing agricultural assistance to Cebuanos but is still on the works,” shared provincial administrator Mark Tolentino.

“We are very confident that Cebu Provincial Government is going to be a good partner for us,” expressed LDS Elder Kenneth Lee.

“We’ve asked around and did some research. We know Gov. Davide is a good governor, very low profile person but really good to work with,” he added.

In yesterday’s Partners’ Meeting at the Manila Philippine Temple of LDS in Quezon City, Elder Bruce Haslem thanked all the partner organizations and institutions for helping out in serving the needy and the less-fortunate.

“All of us here at LDS Charities appreciate all the work that each of you do. We could not do all of these without you,” he expressed.

Other partners of LDS Charities for the wheelchairs project are the Philippine Navy, Navotas City Government, AKAP Pinoy Quezon City, Bataan Provincial Government, Iloilo Provincial Government and Go Forward Foundation in Biñan, Laguna.

cebu.gov.ph