Pangasinan mulls putting up PWD facility

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=905837
• Wednesday, July 20, 2016

(PNA), LAP/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 20 (PNA) -- The provincial government of Pangasinan is now mulling over a proposal for the putting up of a facility especially dedicated for the persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Governor Amado Espino III bared the plan during the opening program of the PWD Sensitive Training on Wednesday at the President Hotel, saying he will be meeting with concerned agencies and organizations to look into the project of establishing a center for PWDs.

“The PWDs had long been asking that they be given their own facility,” said Espino. He said such facility is initially envisioned to be a venue for trainings, among other events, concerning the PWDs.

The governor also vowed that the provincial government will continue extending assistance to the group.

“We like to give them a chance in life that despite them being physically challenged, they are still capable to provide not only for themselves but also for their family,” he remarked.

He also said he has instructed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to meet up with different line agencies and local government units to replicate in the provincial level different successful programs on PWDs.

Meanwhile, David Bulario, president of the Federation of PWDs in Pangasinan, thanked the provincial government for their support such as in the form of livelihood assistance and trainings to their group.

“Wala nang namamalimos dahil sa programa ng pamahalaan, (There are no more PWDs begging because of the peograms of the government) he said.

According to the PSWDO, there are 10,039 listed PWDs, so far, in the province but data-banking is still ongoing.

During the program, Espino also led the distribution of assistive devices namely 35 wheelchairs, two walkers, and four crunches to beneficiaries from different towns in the province.

He also led the awarding of financial incentives to PWD-athletes who participated in the Philippine Sports for Differently-Abled (PHILSPADA) National Paralympic Games.

These PWD-athletes in Pangasinan won nine gold, 10 silver, and eight bronze medals in athletics, javelin throw, discus throw, shot hook, table tennis, power lifting, and long jump.

The two-day training, attended by PWDs and special education teachers in the province, is part of the province’s observance of the 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week anchored on the theme, “Karapatan ng May Kapansanan, Isakatuparan, Now Na.”

PSWDO chief Emil Samson said the event is one way of promoting further the “dignity and self-worth” of the PWDs.