Mayor John Dalipe and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas lead the launching of the 45th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (NDPR) celebration Monday, July 17, as Zamboanga City remains unrelenting in its commitment to the welfare and protection of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Themed: “Person with Disabilities Accessibility and Rights Towards a Sustainable Future where No One is Left Behind,” the celebration runs until July 23 and includes various activities in recognition of the role of PWDs in the society.
The launching held during the flag raising ceremony in City Hall Monday morning was a prelude to the city-wide opening program set at the KCC Mall at 3pm today.
Activities slated for the celebration include the simultaneous hanging of NDPR advocacy tarpaulins by local and national stakeholders from Licomo to Limpapa (July 17); motorcade and opening program (July 17), Skills Training for PWDs by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in barangays Culianan, Talabaan, Ayala, Labuan, Curuan and Vitali (July 18); Training and Stakeholders’ Forum organized by the City Government (July 21); Gathering of PWDs at the Western Mindanao Command organized by the JCI Zamboanga (July 22) and Thanksgiving Mass (July 23).
As a manifestation of its commitment to the protection of rights of PWDs, the city government through the CSWDO has the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Unit (PDAU) which has been in operation for more than 5 years now.
The PDAU led by Rose Ann Suarez with Henry Salac, Dorante Gaspar, Larry Sanson, Ramon de los Santos Jr. and Bijon Jane Robles, in collaboration with the PWD Federation led by Kerwin Serrano has been recognized by the DSWD for its outstanding accomplishments.
CSWDO Assistant department head Uldarico Fabian during the flag raising ceremony introduced the PDAU staff and briefly explained about the rights of PWDs as well as the LGU PWD programs and projects. (Sheila Covarrubias)