2006 Disability Week focuses on environmental concerns
The fundamental values of environmental management and protection for a meaningful ecosystem will be given emphasis as the country observes the 28th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week carrying the theme "Kalikasan Pangalagaan: Kapansanan Maiiwasan" on July 17 to 23.
The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) said the theme befits the current situation of our population, with ten percent of which constitute persons with disabilities caused mainly by natural disasters brought about by man's abuse of Mother Nature.
"The theme chosen dramatizes the increased incidence of environmental disasters, deforestation and a host of other activities resulting to, among others, the loss of lives, disabling of physical conditions, and wanton disabilities among the human population", said the NCWDP in a press report.
Here in the city and province of Iloilo, the week-long celebration will be formally opened on July 18 with a mass at 7 o' clock in the morning at the San Jose Parochial Church. This will be followed by a foot parade and motorcade participated in by the different PWDs' organizations, members of the Regional Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons 6 (RCWDP 6), other concerned agencies and non-government organizations. The parade will start at the Plaza Libertad and end at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol for the opening program.
Expected to give their messages during the program are Governor Niel Tupas and Director Teresita Rosales of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DWSD 6).
The next day, July 19, members of the RCWDP are set to conduct a monitoring on the implementation of the Accessibility Law in the city of Iloilo.
Other activities include a medical mission on June 20, from 7 in the morning to 12 noon at the Lapaz Maternity Productivity Center and a symposium at 2 o'clock in the afternoon at the DSWD 6 Training Office in Molo, Iloilo City.
The members of the Philippine Blind Union - Iloilo and Association of Disabled Persons - Iloilo (ADPI will also have a massage demo at the Provincial Capitol on June 21.
Television and radio guestings were also lined up in various local TV and radio stations to drum up the event.
(PIA)