The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of the Iloilo Provincial Government encouraged seven more municipalities in the province to organize all the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) so that the latter can avail the privileges enjoyed by senior citizens.

These towns are Balasan, Batad, New Lucena, San Miguel, Sara and Tigbauan.

According to Dr. Neneth Pador, chief of PSWDO, PWD-members can avail of 20 percent discount in medicines and five percent in all prime commodities as long as they comply with the requirements needed before they could get their identification card and booklet.

She added that members are also informed of their rights under Republic Act 9442 (National Council on Disability Affairs) or as amended Republic Act no. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

Pador said there are about 16,095 PWD-members from 32 towns in Iloilo and this will increase once the seven remaining towns will organized theirs.

Pador said they will also introduce livelihood programs such as agriculture, beauticulture, food processing, cooking, beads making and candle making so that they could generate income to sustain their daily needs.

She added that some PWDs from other towns have businesses after their Local Government Units (LGUs) organized them.

Those in the town of Leon are into coconut products, ornamental plant cultivation; Oton, doormat making; Igbaras, massage therapy; Cabatuan, canteen management; Concepcion, pedicab; and New Lucena, a pilot municipality for a non-handicapping environment in the province.

TESTIMONY

John Rey Villarias, 29, of Brgy. Igbon, Concepcion, Iloilo is very thankful now that he is an active member of the Concepcion Disabled People Organization Inc. and currently enjoying all the privileges given to PWDs.

Villarias, a day care teacher said he lost his right arm when he was 15 years old while fishing with his father.

Even if has failed to reach his goal of joining the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), he took the Bachelor on Elementary Education (BEED) in Lemery Polytechnic College.

After college, he stayed home and away from other people until his friend convinced him to join the PWD group.

Concepcion LGU discovered him to have potential in teaching, so he was endorsed as a day care teacher.

"I had no regrets in joining the team. I'm not afraid to show my talents and skills because I know myself and I can do more to help my fellow PWDs," he said.*