DSWD Commits to Support Agenda of Persons with Disabilities as PWD Group Holds Summit

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo today attended a gathering led by the Liga ng May Kapansanan, an organization of some 1,000 Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and their families. Their activity — a PWD Summit — was held at the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, and they submitted their sectoral calls and demands to Sec. Taguiwalo, as well as to  representatives of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Among the issues that they want the Duterte administration to immediately address concern PWD’s need to have access to social services as well as opportunities for regular employment and sustainable livelihood.

Sec. Taguiwalo declared her full support for the PWD agenda. “There is an urgent need to help Filipinos with disabilities — they want to be productive and independent, they want to be able to earn a living for themselves and their families. We have to improve our mechanisms and programs in a way that supports this end,” she said.

She also emphasized the need for PWD groups to unite on common agendas and campaigns to promote their collective interest.

“Gusto ko lamang idiin ang kahalagahan ng suportahan, pagtutulungan at damayan ng kapwa mga PWD sa isa’t isa, at gayundin ng iba pang mamamayan sa PWDs gaya ng mga mula sa people’s organization, civil society, at mga kasamahan sa komunidad at mga kapamilya. Mahalaga rin na ang pamahalaan, at mga lingkod bayan nito ay may tunay na malasakit sa mga maralita, nangangailangan at mga bulnerableng sektor,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo also shared the programs of the DSWD for PWDs. “We have two residential facilities for children with disabilities who have been abandoned or neglected — the Elsie Gaches Village in Muntinlupa, and accelerating Minor’s Opportunity for Recovery Village or Amor Village sa Tarlac. We also have  three non-residential centers that provide livelihood trainings for PWDs. These are the Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop (RSW) and National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) in Quezon City. We are also establishing a Center for the Handicapped in Cotabato City. ”

“We are currently in the process of assessing the facilities and staffing of the centers with the intent to improve them and make them more accessible to their target beneficiaries,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo also announced the intention of the Duterte administration to hold a “Differently-Abled Development Agenda Summit” in the coming weeks.

The PWD Summit is organized by the Liga ng May Kapansanan with the DSWD, Community Response for Enlightenment, Services and Transformation (CREST), PWD Welfare Center and Anak ng may Kapansanan at Magkakabuklod na Mamamayan ng Pasig.