Reg’l Committee on Disability Affairs sets activities for the year

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Friday 16th of March 2012

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 16 (PIA) -- To continuously promote the welfare of persons with disability (PWDs), the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA) led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga with partner agencies will once again spearhead different celebrations with various activities for this year.

According to Flerida Labanon, regional program coordinator of the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA), the local government units must also include programs and services for the children/youth with disability, women and older persons with disability because they also form part of nation-building.

Labanon also stressed that local government units should double time its advocacy on the implementation of the 20 percent discount privilege on purchases and services not only for the senior citizens but for the PWDs as well.

“In time with this year’s women’s month celebration, our women with disability will also be highlighted and they will also be participating in different activities especially on disaster-risk reduction and management… This year, we will also observe the 5th World Autism Awareness Day. We also encourage our PWDs to participate in the Search for the “Asia-Pacific Disability Champions Award,” said Labanon.

Activities like “Light-up Blue” (lighting/releasing of sky lanterns), photo exhibits, and on-the-spot poster making contest are among the set activities for the 5th World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, 2012 with the theme “Make the rights real for persons with Autism.”

Deadline of submission for the nomination forms from the different sectors for the Search for the Asia-Pacific Disability Champions Award involving PWDs is on March 30, 2012.

Also, on May 2012, the RCDA will be conducting ‘access audit’ on the facilities of Surigao del Sur provincial offices and Tandag City municipal offices. Afterwhich, a consultation/forum with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) employees will be held.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga will be conducting skills training and trade fair for PWDs.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga will be spearheading the Anti-bullying Campaign in the primary and secondary schools through series of consultations with the students and their parents.

The RCDA members will finalize other activities for this year during its second quarter meeting.

RCDA with partner agencies and stakeholders call on the public to give their full support on these activities for the welfare of the PWDs. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)