PWDs in Iloilo City to hold tree planting
Persons with disabilities in Iloilo City will plant 500 tree seedlings tomorrow at the Treñas Boulevard in connection with the observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week from July 17 to 23.
Dolores Laudenorio, head of the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs-Iloilo City, said during the PIA-Cable TV program the city government has purchased some 500 fire tree seedlings from Guimaras for the PWDs.
“The event is memorable, and once the trees bear flowers, we will be remembered as the ones who planted them,” Laudenorio said.
Laudenorio said that today, the PWDs in the city will stage an Awakening Show,
a drama presentation showcasing the talents of PWDs.
There are now 4,200 PWDs in Iloilo City based on the profiler they have conducted.
These PWDs have IDs and discount booklet holders.
Laudenorio said the criteria was based on the national standard profiler of the Department of Health. The survey on population of PWD is being conducted by the PWD Coordinators in every district of Iloilo City.
The PWD population in Western Visayas is 11,000, she added.
Laudenorio said PWDs need to register themselves to avail of free and discounted services as mandated by law.
Registered PWDs will be given IDs and discount booklet which they can use to avail of markdown prices when buying medicines, eating in restaurants and other services.
The IDs and discount booklets are given by the OPDA to its members only.
Laudenorio said that family members can also register the PWDs they know to the OPDA anytime. They only have to bring pictures, medical certificates and identification documents of their PWD family members to the OPDA office in Iloilo City.
Meanwhile, local government units are mandated to allot .05 percent of their annual Internal Revenue Allotment for projects and programs intended for PWDs.
