BAGUIO CITY – Some twenty two persons with disability (PWDs) from the different city barangays were recipients of livelihood assistance from the labor department to help in enhancing their existing sources of income.
PWD Affairs Office (PDAO) head Dr. Samuel G. Aquino said that the recipients were provided some PhP30,000 worth of goods and equipment under the labor department’s livelihood assistance program to boost their existing sources of livelihood and improve the situation of their families.
He said that the beneficiaries were properly screened by the labor department while the PDAO facilitated the linkage of the recipients with the labor department’s program.
Among the livelihood projects of the PWDs that were provided assistance were car wash, rice retailing, frozen foods retailing, high speed embroidery, tailoring, bag making, crocheting, arts and prints shop, pizza and kimchi production, window-making, dishwashing soap and coffee vending, dishwashing products-making, food processing, bakehouse, home-baking products and handicrafts.
He claimed that the PDAO will continue to link the PWDs with existing established sources of livelihood to concerned government agencies which have assistance programs for them to access financial and technical assistance for the enhancement of their sources of livelihood and expansion of their operations and thus, contribute in spurring the economic activities in their respective communities.
The PDAO official called on PWDs in the different parts of the city who have existing livelihood activities and who need additional financial and technical support to coordinate with their office to help them access support from government agencies to improve their businesses.
According to him, PWDs in the city are demonstrating that, despite their respective disabilities, they are able to find ways to be resilient and earn income, establishing their livelihood activities and not be too dependent on support from the city government and concerned government agencies.
He expressed hope that more PWDs can access the financial and technical assistance from government agencies to help them improve the conduct of their businesses proving that their disabilities are not a hindrance to being productive members of the society. By Dexter A. See
