DSWD releases P12 million for PWDs in Region 7

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 joins the national simultaneous payout for the Cash-for-Work (CFW) for Persons with Disabilities program in celebration of the International Day of PWDs.

With the theme “BUHAYnihan: Buhay at Bayanihan para sa Mamamayan,” the cash-for-work program, which is part of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), aims to provide temporary financial assistance in exchange for community service.

Through this, communities are given the opportunity to see the important contribution of citizens with disabilities to the development of our society.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Janus Siddayao and DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, together with local officials, led the ceremonial payout to beneficiaries of the cash-for-work program in Sibonga, Cebu.

The PWDs worked for 10 days in their respective communities and received the minimum regional wage of P435 per day.

Lucero thanked the LGUs for accepting the program and for helping validate the deserving PWDs who took part in the series of community works such as clerical work, community cleaning, carpentry work, and gardening.

“We all know that PWDs are among the sectors badly affected by the pandemic. They are also one of the most affected by the increasing prices of fuel, which resulted in a price increase for basic commodities. That is why the DSWD, through our KALAHI-CIDSS program, initiated a cash-for-work program for them,” Lucero said in her speech during the payout.

Lucero added that the DSWD hopes that more families will allow their relatives who are PWDs to be mainstreamed in society, allowing them to go out and join various sectoral groups and activities.

In this way, she said, PWDs who are capable of having an education will not be limited to cash for work but rather create a future that is not limited for them.

Romson Panganoron, one of the beneficiaries, said that he has experienced difficulty in applying for a job but the DSWD program offered him a job that he is good at, such as cleaning toilets and sweeping in public areas.

So far, the DSWD-7 has released a total of P12.7 million to 3,044 PWD beneficiaries in 15 municipalities across Central Visayas. — GAN (FREEMAN)