March 28, 2024

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr., assured the inclusion of more programs or projects that could be implemented to make it easier for persons with disability to engage in the mainstream society.

In observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week from July 17 to 23, the municipal government through the Municipal Disability Affairs Office (MDAO) has lined up activities for the PWDs in the capital town.

According to Municipal Disability Affairs Officer Maria Codeo, the PWDs participated in the consultation and orientation on relevant laws in the promotion of PWDs’ welfare and underwent training on dishwashing, fabric conditioner, and soap making on July 18 to 19 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol auditorium.

Codeo said aside from the training, the organized PWDs in the 16 barangays will receive one starter kit for dishwashing, fabric conditioner, and soap making as they are targeting to market their products in their respective barangays. The income will be included as seed capital for the respective organizations should they venture into other livelihood or income-generating projects.

Aside from these activities, the PWDs received their PWD IDs and purchase booklets for them to avail of the Magna Carta for PWDs, which includes 20 percent discount for the purchase of medicine, dental services, food services at restaurants, and transportation fares. They are also qualified to avail of the five percent discount on the purchase of basic commodities and non-inclusion of the 12 percent value-added tax.

Tudlong lauded the commitment of Codeo and the organized PWDs in every barangay for having one voice to assert their rights as stipulated in the Magna Carta and develop their personal capacities.

The mayor believes PWDs are one of the sectors of society that should be given equal opportunity. He assured the full support of the municipal government for the improvement of the well-being of the PWDs in the municipality and their integration into the mainstream of society.

Based on the record of MDAO, there are 723 PWDs in Bontoc and their names were inputted into the Philippine Registry System.

Types of disability include deaf or hard of hearing, intellectual disability, learning disability, mental disability, orthopedic disability, physical disability, psychosocial disability, speech, and language impairment, and visual disability.

The NDPR Week is observed every July 17 to 23 pursuant to Proclamation 1870 as amended by Proclamation 361 and Administrative Order 35 s. 2002.

The weeklong event is celebrated annually to stimulate public awareness of the issues and problems of disability, thereby encouraging every citizen of the country to take active responsibility in the upliftment of the economic and social conditions of all PWDs in the society.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Working with government in achieving equal access to education, employment and livelihood towards empowerment of persons with disabilities”. – Alpine K. Malwagay