The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
PWDs call for care, love not pity
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with the 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week celebration slated annually every July 17-24, the Cagayan de Oro City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) head urges everyone to show care and love to persons with disabilities (PWDs) instead of pity during the media forum, Talakayan sa PIA, on July 15.
With the theme, “Karapatan ng Maykapansan, Isakatuparan… Now Na!,” Melagros Maquiling, head of the Cagayan de Oro City PDAO emphasized that they may have disabilities but they are still called “persons,” thus, the term PWDs, which make them the same with the rest of the society. She also added that like everybody else, PWDs have their rights that should be upheld and advocated to all. For her part, Rochelle Dagaraga of the Commission on Human Rights10 (CHR) said that they are always conducting awareness sessions applicable not only to the government but to everybody since it is difficult to assert if the person himself or herself
does not know his or her rights. Dagaraga added that with the special consideration and allocation of funds for the sector, “We could engage more and conduct more activities for the PWD sector because human rights is universal. It’s for everybody.” Meanwhile, Hazel Bual of the Deaf Association of Misamis Oriental (DAMOR) said that they are happy and thankful for the Cagayan de Oro City government for showing manifestations of respecting the rights of the hearing-impaired persons by providing interpretation services. Bual added that the existence of such service is part of their accessibility. With it, they can easily call the interpreters to help them
communicate with their doctors during their check-ups or do other activities with ease. Meanwhile, Rolando Damaolao, chairman of Cagayan de Oro City Council on Disability Affairs (CDOCCDA), shared that aside from celebrating the NDPR week as a way to advocate for rights of the PWDs, the White Cane Safety Day is also observed to inculcate public awareness of the plight of the visually impaired persons. He also stressed that the celebration, slated annually on August 1, is a way to promote recognition and acceptance of the ‘white cane’ as
a symbol of the need of the sector for specific assistance and as a reminder of the individual’s duty to care for and accord due respect to a person with visual impairment. Maquiling further added that they do not want anybody’s sympathy; they merely want easy access to public places and care from the people around them. “Disability issue is everybody’s concern… Marami pang isyu ang sector na kung hihimayin, iiyak kayo, (There are still a lot of issues in the sector, if identified, you will surely cry),” Maquiling concluded.(RTP/PIA10)
DOLE 10 grants P500K BUB livelihood to Oroquieta federal union OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental – The Department of Labor and Employment in Misamis Occidental Provincial Field Office released the sum of P500,000 under the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) funds to 500 recipients of the Federal Union of Oroquieta Motorcab Operators and Drivers Association Incorporated (FUOMODAI), in a check turnover held on 29 June 2016 in Oroquieta City. The ceremonial turnover was headed by DOLE-10 Misamis Occidental Head Leonardo G. Rodrigo. Also in attendance were the 14 project beneficiaries along with
FUOMODAI President Alex Ocampos, Villaflor Barangay Captain Tomas Lamparas and Oroquieta City PESO Manager Mark Anthony Artigas and his staff.
DOLE-10 Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante promotes Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB), “This is implemented as a reform program of the National Government with the objective of attaining the Philippine Development Plan’s goals of inclusive growth and poverty reduction. It aims to achieve grassroots empowerment and participation, providing the citizens an equal opportunity to determine the projects that accurately respond to the needs of their community.” “Through the BuB process, organizations of all basic sectors can acquire livelihood skills to help them obtain gainful employment and initiate livelihood projects,” Agravante added. The beneficiaries reported that the livelihood grant will serve as capital funding to purchase various motor spare parts and eventually start their proposed Motorcycle Spare Parts Trading Business. Moreover, the shop will offer quality new or used motorcycle parts to a growing market of motorcycling users and hobbyists in the city and nearby municipalities. According to them, they have a high degree of confidence for the business due to the affinity of the many local residents with motorcycle usage. As observed, mostly middle –class population finds motorcycles efficient and cost-effective---bought at reasonable prices. From personal to business use, the motorcycle is a viable means of transport in both
urban and rural areas of the Province which makes the sales potential more promising. With enthusiasm, FUOMODAI President Alex Omandam said, “Manghinaut mi na mulambo ni nga negosyo. Dako kayo among pasalamat sa DOLE ani nga oportunidad ug among buhaton ang among responsibilidad isip miyembro sa organisasyon (We hope that this business venture will prosper. We owe the DOLE our biggest gratitude for this opportunity and we will take responsibility of this project as members of the organization).” In conclusion, Rodrigo gave emphasis on how the members should operate in accordance with the Project Proposal. “We are here to provide economically vulnerable groups like you, the tools and resources to help you get started and engage in livelihood to improve your incomes and standard of living. However, the DOLE is particularly eyeing on longterm sustainability. So my challenge to you is to do your part and help each other to make your business grow and expand on a long-term basis”, he insightfully stated. (Lei Garrett I. Miraflor/DOLE-X Mis. Occ. PFO)
Malaybalay intensifies ‘doorstep’ anti-rabies immunization, offers free vaccine MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – In an effort to help the Department of Health’s advocacy on rabies awareness and reducing human death caused by rabies, the city government of Malaybalay through the City Veterinary Office (CVO) has recently launched its door-to-door free mass vaccination. The campaign trail dubbed “Doorstep Anti-Rabies Vaccination” has started July 11 in the city’s urban barangays, Mondays to Fridays, and will end on 29 July 2016. City veterinary officer Dr. Michelle Miquiabas said rabies is a terrible disease that is 100 percent preventable and yet brings misery and death to thousands of dogs and people worldwide. “Here in Malaybalay, we have created a pool of volunteers coming from 11 urban barangays of the city, including those from barangays Sumpong, Casisang, Laguitas, and Miglamin to help us in mass vaccination of cats and dogs,” he said. The volunteers, known as City Anti-Rabies Volunteers and Enthusiasts (CARVE), completed the two-day advanced training on mass ‘Dogs Vaccination’ and will join the regular force of veterinary office’s vaccinators to assist in administering a 15-day door-to-door mass immunization, he added. As a counterpart, CVO said free meals and snacks—including uniform
shirts—are offered to volunteers for the duration of the project. Sources of funds are appropriated from the anti-rabies program of the city government. “Hence, CARVE volunteers will augment the workforce of CVO inorder to hit our target of 22,500 dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies,” Miquiabas said. The CVO, meanwhile, is intensiying its spay/neuter activities for the stray dogs, which is the most humane way of controlling their population. These new rules would control the street-dog population and prevent lethal rabies infection. With this, CVO said, the city government has allocated half-million pesos for the implementation of City Ordinance No. 668 that provides rules and regulations for animals’ welfare in support to Republic Act 9482 otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act. (RLRB/PIA-10 Bukidnon)