Sarangani PWDs federate to help others

By April Jane Cagas Ugsad

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 7, 2014) - A provincial federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) has been established in Sarangani Province.

The Sarangani PWD Provincial Federation was created after the conduct of a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop for PWDs that aimed to formulate the PWD Strategic Plan for 2015-2017 and assess the sustainability and functionality of PWD sector/program.

Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon led the oath-taking of the newly-elected officers to serve until 2016 composed of president Juan Macalam from Alabel; vice president Ildefonso Gargaran of  Malungon; secretary Faisah Abdulwahab of Maasim; treasurer Marcelo Mungkil of Glan; assistant treasurer Raymund Christopher Avila of Kiamba; auditor Elmer Puno of Maitum; and PIO Anthony Alcanzado from Malapatan.

This is the first time the provincial federation of PWDs is created in Sarangani thru the Sulong Sarangani flagship program with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

The federation is hopeful that they can extend services to the remote areas of the province with the help of the local officials.

Gov. Solon has pledged the support of the provincial government and urged the federation to have a holistic approach to their future development plans and activities.

To initially kick off the organization, Gov. Solon handed over P20,000 cash to the federation.

Gov. Solon has been very supportive to the PWDs by conducting medical missions, provisions on hearing aids, wheelchairs/prosthetics/crutches, and similar assistance with the help of Congressman Manny Pacquiao, Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao, board members, partner NGOs and private sector.

The provincial government so far was able to access a total of 277 wheelchairs from different NGOs, like Mahintana Foundation, Physicians for Peace, and Operation Blessings Foundation, and distributed them to needy PWDs and senior citizens in the province.

The Physicians for Peace headed by Dr. Josephine Robredo-Bundoc has given 62 prosthesis for the leg and arm, crutches and walkers of PWDs here.

Medical missions were organized for the children with cerebral palsy cases. Lectures and training for parents and guardians of said children regarding the proper management were done.

Financial assistance amounting to P2,500 annually from the Gender and Development (GAD) fund is provided to each indigent child with cerebral palsy to sustain their medical needs.

The province was also able to partner with the Philippine Physical Therapist Association, Inc. in General Santos City in giving the PWDs a chance to avail of rehabilitation services at a lower cost.

“The Starkey Hearing Foundation held hearing mission to beneficiaries providing hearing aids and body aids at P16,000 per hearing aid and P80,000 to P100,000 per body aid. Last year, there were 422 beneficiaries from Sarangani who received 670 units of hearing aids and body aids in the total equivalent amount of P10.7 Million,” community affairs officer and PWD in-charge of PSWDO Joel Cuartero said.

The province will conduct training on beauty culture to women with disability and the parents of the PWDs. (April Jane Cagas Ugsad/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)