Dolly Laudenorio: Leading the way for those with disability
Dolly Laudenorio
* I would like to empower persons with disabilities to lead meaningful and productive lives. We need rights, not pity; laws, not sympathy.
Dolores Mendoza Laudenorio acquired her disability of being a poliomylitis victim (left legged) when she was 11 months old. This was caused by a viral infection with high fever. Immunization was not applicable at that time. She underwent treatments and sufferings during her childhood days. Even her employment was affected until she decided to advocate for the rights and privilege of her fellow differently-abled persons.
Being the president of the Federated Persons with Disability, Iloilo City (FPWDs) and Vice President of the Federated Persons with Disability (FPWD) Region 6, Dolly faces many challenges.
First of all, she makes sure that the rights and privileges of PWDs are implemented, like: equal opportunity for employment, access to quality education, provision of health programs, auxiliary social services, benefits in telecommunications, accessibility and transportation, use of public accommodations and services of political and civil rights.
Know more about her and the federations' efforts in promoting the welfare of the PWDs in this interview.
During the inspection at the Iloilo airport
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): What are the projects of the federation?
Dolly Laudenorio (DL): We hold trainings, seminars, medical missions as well as literary and musical contests. We join activities of the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) like those for the Philippine Blind Union Association of Disabled Persons-Iloilo and the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week celebration.
KMV: What about livelihood projects?
DL: None yet because we don't have any budget. But in the municipalities under FPWDs, there are many livelihood projects. Each municipality and province has its president, so they organize their officers and members. I get to be invited to their livelihood efforts. They have mayors who are very supportive of PWDs.
For example, the Association of Disabled Persons-Iloilo maintains a canteen, a cooperative that produces wheelchairs, school chairs and other mobility devices and baking and food processing.
In Barotac Viejo, they have balut making; Iloilo, bag making; Igbaras, candy and pillow case making; Dmangas, food processing; Ajuy Sara, Concepcion and the Philippine Blind Union, micro lending; Deaf Association, cosmetology and T-shirt printing; Cabatuan, canteen; and San Miguel, canteen and massage and beauty parlor.
KMV: What are the challenges that you face?
DL: First is monitoring if establishments comply with the Batasang Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law. It is an act to enhance the mobility of disabled persons by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and other devices. If we find discrepancies, we can file cases against them. By the way, Tagbak Terminal, Grand Dame Hotel, Iloilo Grand Hotel and SM Supermalls were given awards as disabled friendly establishments.
Second, when members get sick. We try to find outlets so we could provide medical assistance. We hold medical missions and when there are medicines left, we divide it between the social workers and the members.
Third, there are some PWDs that need to be given pieces of advice.
Four, values formation. We are trying to encourage the out-of-school youth to go to school. Some PWDs are no longer interested to go to school. They just want to get into livelihood instead. It's a good thing they get to work on classroom chairs and wheelchairs at the Tesda-ADPI livelihood center.
Fifth, the budget constraint, especially here in the city.
KMV: Where do you normally get your budget?
DL: Per the Magna Carta 7277, 0.5 percent of the national budget should be alloted to PWDs. Next year, hopefully, we'll get that part of the budget. At present, we asked for a supplemental budget from the city government for our activities, trainings, seminars and for the construction of our OPDA Office in Molo. It's a two-storey building which we will share with the City Social Welfare Development Office.
KMV: How do you deal with your disability?
DL: Just normal. I can go anywhere. I admit there are many PWDs that are still discriminated. So it's a good thing that there's a new law disallowing the mockery of PWDs. Amendments were recently introduced as contained in Republic Act 9442. the law now criminalizes anybody who put PWDs in public ridicule. Section 40 provides that no individual, group or community shall "execute any of these acts or ridicule" any time and any place lest it will cause intimidation or loss in self-esteem. Violators stand to be fined from P50,000 to P200,000 while foreigners shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings.
KMV: Any message to Ilonggos?
DL: The Federation of Persons with Disabilities and Association of Disabled Persons in Iloilo, I and Juvy Ministros would like to thank Blessings Foundation of the Philippines Inc., and Paglaum Project through the efforts of HALIGI Foundation and Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for giving 100 wheelchairs.
Then, for parents of PWDs, is you have a child that has a disability, get in touch with the barangay health worker or social worker so you could be a member of the federation. This way, you could avail of the privileges given by the government as well as exercise your rights as normal persons to be integrated in the mainstream of our society. These revolutionized efforts will result to an increase in awareness of the Filipinos on the plight of persons with disabilities. These are the foundations that I would like to empower persons with disabilities to lead meaningful and productive lives. We need rights, not pity; laws, not sympathy.