DAVAO DEL NORTE — Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario announced that he will continue to implement programs and projects that will address the needs and concerns of the persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the province of Davao del Norte.
We will continue to keep the gates of opportunities wide open for easy access to persons with disabilities towards their way to success, Del Rosario declared during this year’s first quarter joint conference of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (PCWDP) and the local government unit (LGU) action officers at the Molave Hotel, Tagum City last March 20, 2009. The governor said that he will see to it that the efforts, rights and privileges of the PWDs in the province are observed.
PCWDP action officer Arlene Semblante bared that the council’s budget of close to a million pesos this year will be utilized for various programs and activities that aim to broaden the participation and opportunities for PWDs.
Del Rosario instructed the respective local councils for the welfare of disable persons (CWDPs) to organize all PWDs in every barangay in order to widen the opportunities for their socio-economic development.
PWDs in all the barangays should be organized and they should be properly advised on the financial assistance and other services available for them from the different agencies of the government, he stressed.
The governor directed the provincial office of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to give an account of the almost half a million pesos of financial assistance provided for PWDs in the province from the year 2003 up to 2007.
He also asked the labor department to refocus its Grow Micro Program in such a way as to give more priority to the financial needs of PWDs. The PWDs deserve more attention, Del Rosario said.
The Dole’s Grow Micro financial assistance program released a total of 3.4 million pesos last year to the eight LGUs of Davao del Norte. Some 1.8 million pesos are scheduled to be released this year for the remaining LGUs, including the provincial government.
Del Rosario further instructed the provincial office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to provide more technical-vocational trainings that cater to the needs of the PWDs. Del Rosario also bared that a total of 1,721 Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS) slots in Tesda are available for PWDs in the province.
Aside from offering free career profiling and training, these scholarship programs also provides free allowance or training support funding, as well as free competency assessment with certification and a generous job referral. (PGO-ID)
