Talibon empowers PWDs at national rehab week

THEY may be persons with disabilities (PWDs) but they are not totally useless. The National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week rolled here with empowering programs for the town's listed PWDs, a relatively novel step for Bohol 's often forgotten sector. Wanting to get more from the often forgotten sector, local officials here banked on the hope of PWDS to be productive even in their disabilities so as not to be considered burdens to the communities.

The commemoration of the birthday of sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini here carries the theme Kalikasan Pangalagaan, Kapansanan maiiwasan”. This town's Municipal Social Welfare and Development office joined the celebration with a program hosted by Ella Pañares. After the introductions of the program, elections were made.

Sworn info office by Hon. Virginia Item SB member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Talibon were president Hon. Juanilito Borja, vice-president Felix Fuentes, secretary - Mary Cris Jagna, asst. secretary-Dionesio Autida treas.-Mario Albiso, auditor-Nestor Quimson and press relations officers Prudencio Garcia, Julito Valmores and Junley Autentico.

The 25 barangay captains also graced the affair. In his address, Borja thanked the PWD's and urged officers and members to be united so that they can have a strong voice and be heard. Councilor Item said only the PWD's can help for their economic uplift-ment, calling therefore for their cooperation so the government can hear them. She called on the differently-abled persons not to be burdens to the family and the communities. She pressed that they too may be productive in their field of endeavors.

Invited speakers from the Tagbilaran City during the day were Conrado Caseres-Secretary of Bohol Federation of Disabled Persons Inc. Caseres talked about the magna carta for disabled persons while also discussing the Batasang Pambansa 344 or the accessibility law for PWD's. He also talked about the mandatory 20% discounts on transportation while adding that they also get 10% share for PWD's of the Internal Revenue Allotment.

Another speaker, Carlo Maliksi talked about trainings for PWD's available at Arca Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Labangon, Cebu City . Free trainings include Computer Literacy, dressmaking, tailoring, T-shirt printing, massage, furniture making, electronics and cosmetology. The occasion was also made more colorful with the special participation of Talibon Federated Day Care Workers chaired by Zenita Furog and SPED class of Talibon Central Elementary School under Susan Radaza.

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