BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in Baguio City thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for declaring July 17 to 23 of every year as National Disability Rights Week (NDRW).
The President issued Proclamation No. 597 on June 13, 2024 as part of the commitment of the government to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
PDAO head Dr. Samuel Aquino said they are grateful for the declaration, making disability affairs a right-based approach.
“The disability affairs is now being based on the right-based approach and management po, unlike before, it is a medical approach kaya sinasabi natin, prevention and rehabilitation depending on the type of disability. On the part of the sector of persons with disability, we are so grateful enough with this kind of movement on the part of our government po,” Aquino expressed.
Aquino added that the President is also making history in disability affairs because the first and foremost disability law issued before was under the time of his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He issued Proclamation No. 1870 in 1979 declaring the third week of July as the “National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.
As the nation observes the NDRW, Aquino called on agencies to create an inclusive society for persons with disability.
“I encourage all local agencies to create an inclusive society for persons with disability, breaking the barriers, and the persons with disability fully participate in our society,” Aquino said.
In line with the week-long observance, the PDAO has lined up various activities that include persons with disability seminar, livelihood distribution through the Department of Labor and Employment, first aid kit distribution for those who have joined the Basic Life Support for PWD training, an art contest, rights-based seminars, an essay writing contest, and the first ever search for Mr. and Ms. NDRW.
The PDAO is also crafting an executive order for the creation of local council disability affairs. (DEG-PIA CAR)
