REGIONAL SUMMIT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN REGION VII
Montebello Villa Hotel * March 9, 2017
On March 9, 2017 the first Regional Summit for Persons with Disabilities was held at the Villa Montebello Hotel, Cebu City. It was spearheaded and organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region VII in collaboration with the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs Region VII.
The Summit was conducted with the goal of having a deeper understanding on the situation of persons with disabilities and to identify issues and concerns of the sectorand the output shall be forwarded to the DSWD Central Office for consolidation.
The activity was participated in by the Provincial/City Social Welfare and Development Officers, PWD Focal Persons, PWD Federation Presidents representing the seven (7) categories of persons with disabilities per cities in three (3) provinces of Region VII.
OIC-ARDO Grace Q. Subong gave the welcome message. Mr. Ruben Boybanting, Listahanan Focal Person discussed the PWD situationer. Araceli De Leon, NCDA presented to the body all the laws concerning persons with disabilities and that the concerns for the sector should be disability inclusive. Ms. Adela A. Kono, Board Secretary of Organization of Rehabilitative Advocates for Inclusion (ORAI), presented the resolution on Barrier Free Tourism. Ms. Kono also presented the Salient Features of RCDA Resolution on Barrier Free Tourism in compliance with BP344. DSWD FO 7 PWD Sectoral Focal, Ms. Daisy C. Lor presented the 2017 DSWD Thrusts and Priorities and the Socio Economic and 10 Point Agenda on PWD.
A workshop identifying issues and concerns affecting the PWD sector was also conducted. Participants were grouped into seven (7) based on the following: a) Women b) Learning (Cognitive or Intellectual c) Learning & Chronic d) Visual e) Orthopedic (Males) f) Deaf g) Orthopedic. The issues and concerns discussed by the group members in detail are as follows:
• Health Services
• On Livelihood & Employment
• Education
• On Gender Equality, Respect & Recognition
• On Enabling Environment for PWDs
• On Coping in times of Disaster
• On Social Welfare Services