by Gigi G. Dumallig
City Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban assured to continue the city government’s support for the persons with disability (PWD) sector here.
To ensure this, he directed the City Social Welfare and Development Officer to include in their budget fund allotment for PWDs programs and services.
In his message during the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week and house blessing of the Lin-awa Center Transient House, the city mayor said that he “finds inspiration from the achievements and development of the center in providing services for the PWDs.”
The house blessing he said signifies a “ritual transformation since it represents the desire for the approbation of the Almighty for the effort to bring about change.”
Lauding the initiators for their “sincere efforts in making the transformation possible,” Tubban said that the development provided the public an inspiration to also endeavor to share and give recognition for the less fortunate sectors of society such as the PWDs.
The occasion he said predicates the desire of the founders “to let the public know of their noble intentions” to generate awareness from both the beneficiaries and communities of the problems of the PWDs and unprivileged members of the society.
Recognizing the center as a “part of Tabuk City’s historical landmarks,” he said that the development will bring about physical and mental improvement for the beneficiaries and awareness among the public of the needs and problems of the PWDs.
For the past three years, the city government of Tabuk had been providing the Lin-awa Center an annual allotment of P120,000.00 for the services offered in the center such as physical therapy, Special Education Division (SPED), livelihood training and medical services.
Celebrated from July 19-23, this year’s theme of the NDPR Week is “Sa Istrakturang accessible, lahat ay able,” was chosen to align with the functions of the lead agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways, whose mandate among others, concerns the promotion of the accessibility of persons with disabilities towards a barrier-free environment pursuant to Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 better known as the “Accessibility Law.”
This is ably supported by Republic Act No. 7277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons” and its amendatory law, Republic Act No. 9442.