BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
MANJUYOD, NEGROS ORIENTAL March 6 (PIA)
-- The Provincial Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PFPWD) Negros
Oriental chapter clamored for their rights and privileges equal to what
senior citizens are enjoying.
In a joint meeting of Provincial
Council on Disability Affairs (PCDA) and Provincial Federation of Persons with
Disabilities (PFPWD) held in Manjuyod town recently, PWD members aired their
sentiments that some drugstores and business establishments in their
municipalities do not give 20% discount on purchase of medicines and 5% on
basic commodities.
Municipal Social Welfare Officer of
Manjuyod, Marjorie Dique explained that aside from the required
ID they need to present their purchase booklet to avail of discounts.
She added that for them to be properly
identified like the senior citizens they are required to furnish a copy of the
PWD ordinance to drugstores and business establishments for compliance.
She then, encouraged the PWD
associations to sit down during Sangguniang Bayan sessions and lobby on passing
a resolution requiring drugstores to strictly implement the 20% discount on
medicines and 5% on basic commodities as mandated by law.
They can also get funding from their
respective local government units if they are properly accredited with their
LGUs.
For their part, the PWD members
asked the municipal social welfare officer to assist and guide them in this
undertaking.
Valencia PWD association
president, Saturnina Mariano who have both legs amputated and on
wheelchair reiterated her concern that some offices and buisiness
establishments do not have ramps.
She strongly recommends for the full
implementation of the Accessibility Law most especially for PWD on wheelchairs.
Fidela Morfe of the GPRehab suggested
there is a need to re-visit the implementation of Magna Carta for PWD because
of failure to comply with its rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, PESO manager of Negros
Oriental Jose Ramon Benedicto, encouraged the PWD to avail of
its livelihood programs and TESDA's training with certificates on crash
courses such as bookkeeping, encoding and word processing for them to get
employed in government offices on job order basis.
Provincial social welfare officer Benemerita Badon encouraged PWD to
reactivate and strengthen the different municipal PWD associations so
that they can actively participate in the planned Search for Ten Outstanding
Persons with Disabilities in Negros Oriental. (mbcn/LPagunsan/PIA7- Negros
Oriental)