TACLOBAN CITY- The Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PWDAO) of this city is tracking down persons with disabilities not on their data bank for them to be given necessary assistance.
This was disclosed by the office head, Donato Soledad, who said that there are an estimated 1,700 PWDs in Tacloban. However, based on their data bank, there are only 300 PWDs who are registered with their office, Soledad said. According to Soledad, aside from establishing a data bank of PWD’s in the city, there is a need to strengthen the implementation of disability development programs of their office like education, health, employment, livelihood, accessibility, among others.
Soledad said that they are conducting their visits to the 138 barangays of the city to ensure that the PWDs in the villages would be accorded what are due to them.
Meanwhile, Soledad has called for the inclusion of the PWDs in the city disaster risk reduction and management programs. “PWDs and the elderlies should be involved in disaster resilience efforts as they are vulnerable during disasters and they are most in need of help against disasters,” Soledad said. Soledad stressed that despite of their physical infirmities, the PWDs could still be useful members of the society and could be tapped during a disaster. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
