BALANGA CITY – Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) started on Wednesday the observance of the 34th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week with a long motorcade and a lively program at the Bataan People’s Center here.
Marilyn Tigas, provincial social welfare and development officer, said there are 2,348 card-bearing members of the Federation of Persons with Disability in Bataan.
She said that there is an ongoing campaign in barangays to convince other PWDs to register.
The provincial celebration has for its theme “Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities in Economic Development.”
PWDs in various towns showcased their products like kasuy, kasuy wine, araro cookies and other delicacies.
Gila Garcia, consultant to the Bataan governor and Yay Lasam, provincial director of the Department of Trade, led in the ribbon-cutting for the products display.
Hearing-Impaired students presented a dance number. A woman temporarily shoved her crutches and danced much to the enjoyment of the crowd. A man with impaired hearing joined her later in the dance floor.
Rommel Arellano, marriage counselor and a Psychology graduate, said PWDs are already happy because they are being recognized after the passage of a law.
"Kumpleto ang batas kaya lang may pagkakataon na may diskriminasyon pa rin sa employment. Sana magkaroon kami ng pantay na karapatan,” he said.
He said that they wanted to be dependent on themselves and not on others. He advised other PWDs to have positive attitudes. “Walang dahilan para ma-discourage tayo sa ating kalagayan sapagka’t espesyal tayo sa Panginoon,” he said.
Arellano is focal person for family and community services under the municipal social welfare and development office in Limay, Batan. He said that he has been crawling since he was one after being afflicted with polio until he reached college.
“Natapos ko ang Psychology sa pamamagitan ng paggapang all throughout my life. Nagkaroon lamang ako ng wheelchair nang college na ako,” he said.
Janice Flores of Hermosa, Bataan said she was thankful to government for at least giving them support.
“Pero mas gusto sana namin ang accessibility sa mga mismong munisipyo namin para maka-join kami sa affairs ng community,” the woman with one leg said.
She said she enjoyed her identification card receiving 20 percent discount on theaters, transportation and medicines.
But Flores has not forgotten what happened to her 20 years ago when a car hit her and caused the amputation of her leg. “Sana kumpletuhin ang tulong sa akin ng may ari ng kotseng nakasagasa sa akin,” she appealed.
