The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) honors its employees who are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) during the launching of this year’s celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week from July 17 to 23.

In a simple program held during the Field Office’s flag ceremony, DSWD-NCR employees offered an inspirational song to their PWD colleagues.

Mr. Allan Balaba, one of the PWD employees expressed his appreciation to the management for acknowledging their capabilities despite their disabilities.

Ms. Liza Mahinay, DSWD-NCR social welfare specialist for PWD sector also announced the agency lined-up activities for the week-long celebration with the theme “Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities in Economic Development.”

The theme aims to contribute and promote the full employment of persons with disabilities and to address barriers and gaps, facilitate stakeholders’ cooperation, develop innovative approaches and support human-rights based initiatives for the economic development of PWDs.

In line with this, DSWD-NCR will conduct a forum on Accessing PWD to Employment on July 25 to enhance the knowledge of partners and stakeholders on strategies and mechanism that will facilitate access to PWDs for employment.

To promote the skills of the PWDs, a skills competition will also be held on July 27 to be participated by PWDs from the local government units.  The PWDs will be competing in different skills categories such as basket making, recycling, painting, cooking, etc.  Prizes will be given away to winning participants.

Other activities to be conducted include the creation of DSWD-NCR PWD employees’ organization and oath-taking of officers of DSWD-NCR PWD organization. ###