BONTOC – The National Council on Disability Affairs and the Provincial Government of Mountain Province through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) conducted a provincial stakeholder’s forum with the theme “To Make the Right Real” for persons with disabilities last November 26-27, 2014 at the Multi-purpose Building here.
The two-day activity aims to increase the awareness of the community on the rights of persons with disabilities while also promoting an exclusive, barrier-free and right-based society by establishing and localizing disability structures for persons with disabilities.
Joining the activity as a facilitator is Cynthia Barriaga, Regional Program Coordinator of the National Committee on Disability Affairs. Barriaga lectured on the issues regarding accessibility, employment, education and social protection, health and education for persons with disabilities.
Barriaga further commended the efforts of the provincial government in addressing the wellness of this people.
In relation to this, Governor Leonard G. Mayaen has appropriated an amount of Two Million pesos intended to partially fund the construction of a structure to provide an office for persons with disabilities.
Mayaen informed last Wednesday of his plan to allocate the said amount to continue the construction of the Senior Citizens Building at Sac-angan, Calluttit in the capital town with the condition the Senior Citizen’s Organization agree to share the structure.
In relation to this, the PSWD office relayed that a dialogue will be held with the Senior Citizen’s Organization to discuss the Governor’s plan.
Moreover, Mayaen also said that even with the meager budget of the provincial government, they have allotted an amount for the person’s with disabilities.
One important matter that was discussed during the forum is the creation of a Provincial Committee on Disability Affairs to effectively implement disability laws, policies and international commitment for the promotion, protection and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities.
Relative to this, Governor Mayaen assured that the provincial government will do its best in mandating concerned offices to create an effective Provincial Committee.
Parts of the two day activity includes workshops on assessment gains and gaps of disability programs in the province and municipalities, a lecture on human rights-based approach to development, presentation on the major disability laws, policies and international commitment and presentation of livelihood Programs for PWD’s.
Other resource speakers during the activity are Marilyn Palangdao of Commission on Human Rights-CAR, TESDA Provincial Director, Gabriel Cayacay and Marcial Pachingel of the Department of Labor and Employment.
