DAVAO CITY – After almost a year of waiting, persons with disabilities (PWD) in Davao City can now avail themselves of services in the newly opened PWD Affairs Office here.
Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order creating the interim persons with disability affairs office on July 21, 2014. But it was not until May 22 that the office opened in a more convenient location on the first floor of the City Social Services Development Office (CSSDO) along Bolton Extension.
Previously, the Davao City PDAO was on the second floor of said building, making it inaccessible to persons having difficulties with mobility. (See PWDs awaiting creation of disability office in Davao City)
CSSDO department head Maria Luisa Bermudo said the city has allotted P3 million for the yearly operation of PDAO but for now, the CSSDO takes care of the operation as the city mayor has not appointed a focal person yet.
Liwayway Caligdong, CSSDO assistant department head, said their office will call all the associations of PWDs in Davao City for a general assembly where they will discuss the final three nominees to endorse as PDAO focal person.
CSSDO handles 14 federations of PWDs from the three congressional districts in the city excluding those handled by non-government organizations (NGO), and cooperatives.
“We have to hasten the process of naming the nominees from different groups so we can finally have a focal person as the office is already prepared,” Caligdong said.
PWD and Comprehensive Local Integration Program Officer Annabelle Lugo said they are hoping that the nominees will represent all kinds of disability. Those who have mobility disabilities are more involved in the process, she says.
According to the executive order creating the PWD office, the city mayor will designate a focal person, but priority will be given to a PWD with experience in providing services to PWDs.
(John Frances C. Fuentes)
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