COTABATO CITY (PIA) – The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has recently inaugurated the newly renovated Center for persons with disabilities (PWD) located in San Isidro in Cotabato City.
Valued at P14,475,324, the upgraded multi-purpose facility reflects the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to promoting disability sensitivity, empowerment, and self-reliance among individuals with disabilities in the region.
MSSD Minister Raissa Jajurie emphasized that the center’s transformation signifies more than just infrastructure development; it represents a renewed commitment to uplifting the lives of persons with disabilities throughout the region.
“We want to make sure that this becomes a model for other centers we plan to establish, not only for persons with disabilities but also for other vulnerable sectors,” she said.
According to the MSSD, the facility underwent five months of rehabilitation from November 2024 to April 2025.
It features specialized training rooms for vocational and social rehabilitation, counseling, computer literacy, massage therapy, cookery, and functional literacy.
Other amenities include an outdoor activity area, a clinic, a canteen, a prayer room, a conference room, an observation room, and accessible comfort rooms equipped with railings, as well as a guardhouse and administrative offices.
According to social welfare officer Bryan Abdullah, who heads the center, the facility also includes an observation room and the installation of tactile guides to assist visually impaired trainees in navigating it.
“In accordance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, or the Accessibility Law, we ensured the installation of a lift for persons with disabilities, as well as hand railings in comfort rooms to make the entire facility truly disability-friendly,” Abdullah stressed.
The hub functions as a vocational and social rehabilitation facility that provides essential services, skills training, and referrals for individuals with disabilities to foster their independence and promote their integration into mainstream society.
Originally constructed under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the facility was formally turned over to MSSD on November 3, 2023.
Since then, MSSD, in partnership with the city government of Cotabato, has assumed full responsibility for its operations and upgrades.
In consonance with Republic Act 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the facility was renamed from “Center for the Handicapped” to “Center for Persons with Disabilities.” (With reports from MSSD-BARMM)
