SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) recently awarded assistive devices to 55 Person With Disabilities (PWDs) in San Jose as one of the government’s effort to improve the recipients’ quality of life.
Under the MSWDO PWD Development Fund, different kinds of assistive devices such as wheelchair, walking stick, crutches, and walker totaling P176,500 were provided for the PWDs who applied for the assistance.
The PWD Association in each barangay bridges their members in need of intervention to the MSWDO, “President ng association ang katuwang natin na mag-validate. Nagse-send sila ng picture o video ng nangangailangan ng device sa aming opisina,” True Jade Resurrection of MSWDO explained.
Resurrection added that the active reporting of the associations of the beneficiaries’ assessments helped fast-tract the provision of assistive devices, “Very obvious naman ‘yong medical need nila kaya video or photo will suffice na,” said Resurrection.
Cristopher Gomez of MSWDO highlighted that their office consults with doctors to ensure that the beneficiaries will receive the appropriate assistive devices.
Wilfa Andrade, 57, from Brgy. Mapaya, suffered from stroke for three times which caused movement impairment and blurred vision. Since her previous wheelchair broke three years ago, she had been using a plastic chair as an impromptu walker to move around. However, this method does not guarantee safety, “Natatakot ako maglakad kasi mabato ang lupa sa amin…baka matisod ako,” she said.
She shared that receiving a new wheelchair will greatly help her move around their house more safely.
Resurrection underscored that the local government will continue to provide assistive devices to PWDs in the municipality,
“Next year, kasama sa mga proposed activity namin ang magkaroon ulit ng pamamahagi ng assistive device at hopefully, taon-taon na itong ma-include sa activities ng MSWDO,” Resurrection concluded. (PIA Mimaropa-OccMin)
Abas Arebalo from the Buhid Mangyan tribe in a far-flung village located at Sitio Danlog, Brgy. Monteclaro received a walker with wheels for his daughter, Diane Arebalo, 7, who is having difficulty walking due to an accident.
