Confab tackles PWD concerns

CEBU, Philippines — Forty participants from different regions of the country joined the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) of the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs aiming to identify and provide strategic ways to address the issues and needs concerning people with disabilities.

This year’s theme, “Bringing Programs and Services to the Grassroots” has a further goal to make the right deal among Persons with Disability which is identified from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

ESCAP’s mandate is to foster cooperation among its 53 members including the Philippines and for the nine associate members to provide a strategic regional link between global and country-level programs and issues.

Carmen Zubiga, the officer-in-charge of the NCDA urged the participants to ensure the continual implementation of the various programs and to maintain the developmental goal intended for the PWDs.

Zubiga discussed and presented the 10 goals of the Incheon Strategy during the event and urged the members to do the necessary things in order to achieve it.

These goals are: the reduction of poverty and enhancement of work and employment prospects; to promote participation in the political process and decision making; enhancement of access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication; the strengthening of social protection; expansion intervention and education to children with disabilities; to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment; to ensure disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and management; to improve the reliability and comparability of the disability data; to accelerate the ratification and implementation of the convention on the rights of the Persons with Disabilities; and to advance sub regional, regional and inter-regional cooperation.

The event was participated by representatives from different local government agencies/offices such as the Department of Health, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Persons with Disability Organization, Local Government Units Department of Labor and Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Education.

Some local government offices/agencies that attended the event also discussed plans to provide services to PWDs.

DOLE discussed its Local Employment Promotion for the PWDs through capacitating PESO towards their inclusive Job Fairs and Employment of PWDs.

DSWD talked about their programs and services that could provide assistance to PWDs while TESDA presented the accessible skills and training programs it can offers to them.

The DOH also talked about the localization of health, wellness and rehabilitation services that are under their office. (FREEMAN)