know a single
mother, a university clerk living in the periphery of Metro Manila. She has
three children, the eldest of suffers orthopedic impairment and motor weakness,
is paralyzed and has underdeveloped bones and muscles. I had overhead this woman
say that her daughter desperately needs a wheelchair, but that she would never
have enough money to buy one. A wheelchair would get the child off the floor,
and would make life so much easier for all those caring for her. I called a few
government agencies and no one knew of available wheelchairs.
I mentioned the case to an American resident, Wilma Redler,
who manages a denture laboratory, the Skytech. Through ways only known to Redler,
a brand new wheelchair was delivered to the child's home. The child can now be
wheeled to the parks, church, and soon maybe even to school, for the child has
no mental impairment. She used to be carried around from room to room, but she
is learning to wheel herself around.
In social service-oriented countries, such an unfortunate
disabled citizen would be provided with a wheelchair. Ours can spend tens of
millions of dollars for its officials' foreign junkets; minor officials drive
around in government-owned and maintained SUVs. But a disabled child cannot get
help. A wheel chair for an indigent is the responsibility of the government.
Who is a PWD, person with disability?
One who, as a result of a mental, physical, or sensory
problem, is not able to perform an activity in a manner or within the range that
is normal for a human being. Included are visual, hearing, speech, orthopedic,
mental, motor impairments; deformities.
R.A. 9442 provides privileges and incentives: 20 discount for
prescription medicines, lodging, restaurants, recreation facilities, travel
fares, subsidy for education and formal training, discount for basic
commodities, tax incentive for care-givers.
R.A. 9442 also prohibits verbal and nonverbal ways to malign
and ridicule a PWD. Movie makers, TV script writers, directors, and some print
media cartoonists are guilty of this offense against PWD. Certain of the above
mentioned people are so short of ideas and creativity that they resort to using
PWDs as comic figures to earn their living. Certain localities with more funds
and concerned leadership are in a better position to comply with the law in
providing all the benefits and privileges for PWDs. Where I live, a PWD gets
free evaluation/assessment of mentally disabled members, physical and
occupational therapy, priority parking, educational trips, admission to
educational and cultural shows, summer activities (bowling, art, singing
lessons, etc), skills and livelihood training for caregivers, lifetime
membership to KASANIB. Free tickets to all movies in the municipality, physical
and occupational therapy, hospital and acute care center discount card. And for
indigents, school transportation allowance, Philhealth membership, restorative
devices like cane, walker, crutches and wheelchair, rice subsidy, and Christmas
packages.
This barangay's head and involved parents of PWDs organized
to protect the rights, promote the interest of PWDs, and help them participate
in society to their fullest potential. This group is now officially called
Barangay San Lorenzo Persons with Disabilities & Co.
All municipalities can organize such a group to assure PWDs of their benefits
from national, city and barangay administrations. As my barangay is able to
provide the above benefits and privileges, so can all cities and municipalities
in the country. All it takes is a concerned barangay leader and the binding
together of PWD caregivers to work on their rights and privileges according to
the law.
