Mabalacat Association of Persons with Disability

Senator Pia S. Cayetano has welcomed the passage by the Senate of a proposed measure which seeks to give a voice in local governance to the country’s estimated 9.7 million persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Senate Bill No.3560, otherwise known as “An Act establishing the institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities in every province, city and municipality,” the measure was approved unanimously on second reading by the Senate on December 16 before going on a four-week recess.

Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and the bill’s principal sponsor, said Senate Bill No.3560 mandates the creation of a “Persons with Disability Affairs Office” (PDAO) in every province, city and municipality.

In the case of fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities, the bill calls on LGUs to designate a “Focal Person” who shall be responsible for coordinating and ensuring the delivery of programs and services for PWDs. Priority in appointment should be given to a PWD with experience in providing services to his or her fellow PWDs.

The measure also renames the term, “disabled persons” into “persons with disabilities” - the internationally accepted and recognized term for people who are either: 1) hearing impaired; 2) orthopedically impaired; 3) visually impaired; and 4) mentally challenged.

Cayetano said several Filipinos with disabilities have proven they can stand out despite their physical limitations. “Disabilities should never be a hindrance to excel in one’s chosen field. By being assets in society, many PWDs are breaking barriers and changing the misimpression that they are a burden to the nation.”

In her sponsorship speech, Cayetano cited several outstanding PWDs, and more can follow with enough support at the local government level:

• Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, whose polio did not prevent her from serving her province mates, a 2008 Ramon Magsaysay awardee for government service;

• Roselle Ambubuyog, visually impaired student from Ateneo who graduated Summa Cum Laude and now heads a number of foundations for the blind while acting as consultant for a US firm that develops new products for the blind;

• Ana Kristina Arce, 23-year-old hearing impaired student who is the first to graduate magna cum laude from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde;

• Olegario “Ollie” Cantos VII, visually impaired Filipino-American lawyer who is presently the Vice-Chairman of United States Pres. Barack Obama’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities; and

• Adeline “Ads” Dumapong-Ancheta, the first Filipina Paralympics medalist who won the bronze medal in powerlifting in the 2000 Paralympics, and has recently gone to swimming despite having no legs below the knee and no right hand..

“Passing Senate Bill 3560 is a step towards the right path. Establishing these institutional mechanisms would ensure that the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons will now be implemented and thus helping our brothers and sisters living with disabilities in their rehabilitation, self-development, and self-reliance and for their eventual integration into the mainstream of society,” Cayetano stressed.

Other coauthors of the measure are Senators Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, Miriam Defesor-Santiago, Edgardo Angara, Manny Villar, Antonio Trillanes IV, Mar Roxas, Bong Revilla and Alan Peter Cayetano.

  

The Mabalacat Association of Persons with Disability will be holding its Christmas Party for the children with special needs and member PWDs on December 19, 2009, at 1:00 P.M., at the Petals and Petals, Mabiga, Mabalacat, Pampanga.  Hearing impaired students from the different schools would be presenting their intermisison numbers.

  

Jimson G. Forte, of Mawaque High School SPED Class, wins First Place in the Charcoal Painting Category representing the province of Pampanga, held on July 22, 2009 at SM Pampanga on the occasion of the regional celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week 2009, sponsored by the Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-Region III)

  

NDPR Week 2009 - July 17 - 23, 2009

July 17, 2009 - Visit SPED classes at Mabalacat Elementary School at 9:00 AM with Hon. Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, Hon. Vice Mayor Prospero T. Lagman and SB Members and the Jollibee mascot.

July 20, 2009 - 2:00 PM, Celebration of NDPR Week 2009 at the Provincial Capitol. An Abilympics will be held at SM Pampanga.

July 21, 2009 - 7:00 AM, Motorcade from Puregold Dau to Xevera Clubhouse to stimulate public awareness and support on disability issues.  PWD IDs will be distributed to PWD who have already registered.  Assessment by DOH personnel will held for PWD who have not yet registered.

July 22, 2009 - Visit SPED classes at Mawaque Resettlement High School at 9:00 AM with Hon. Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, Hon. Vice Mayor Prospero T. Lagman and SB Members and the Jollibee mascot.

July 23, 2009 - Visit SPED classes at Dau Central Elementary School at 9:00 AM with Hon. Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, Hon. Vice Mayor Prospero T. Lagman and SB Members and the Jollibee mascot.

  

The Association of Persons with Disabilities (APWD) is an organization of persons with disability (PWDs) in the Municipality of Mabalacat.  Our aim is to facilitate integration of disabled persons into the mainstream of society, through advocacy for and encourage respect for persons with disabilities. We are exerting all efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to persons with disabilities. We try to realize this goal by organizing different activities and implementing different programs and projects for the benefits of our members.

APWD was organized and recognized last December 10, 2004, by the Local Government of Mabalacat, Pampanga.  The first set of officers (pioneers) were inducted into office last December 10, 2004.

The APWD is recognized by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Pampanga (PSWDO-Pampanga) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region III.  It is also a member of Central Luzon Federation of PWDs (PWD Regional Federation) and the AKAP-Pinoy National Chapter.