Another consultation was done for the CSWD and the group of PWD by the Department of Social Welfare and I am wondering how much of the past consultation results were actually implemented to merit current rounds of consultation because it seems like the problems faced by the PWD across the region is the same -- refusal of the CSWD to grant the autonomy of the PWD to have their own office under the office of the mayor as mandated by the law. If all 1st - 3rd class municipality will have their People With Disability Affairs Office or better known as PDAO the issues and programs targeting their needs will be better addressed. If the Office of the Mayor will put their feet down and really empower people with disability to be contributing members of the society they will mandate to create this PDAO and give the allocated budget according to the priorities identified by the people with disabilities themselves. If the LGU will give priority and acknowledge all the DPO in their municipalities their work will be cut out for them because PWD know what they need and can help them plan better approach to service delivery. Now, let's wait and see if this will happen in 2015. Below are the presentations during the meeting held last September 23, 2014 at Casa de Padrid, Bay, Laguna Yesterday, Saturday, September 6 was a good day. It was the first time that the group received good information on wheelchair - that there are many kinds of wheelchairs for different kinds of problems (check out this blog http://dhidhakjpbandalan.weebly.com/disability/if-you-have-a-choice), that if not delivered well clients can have more problem than they should have. That there's possibility to create a good service and give good quality devices. That life of people in wheelchair can be so much better if the chairs are according to what they need. And if we continue to support local initiatives like this by local people with disability groups they can be stronger and better advocates themselves..
I was happy there are good people ever ready to support such worthy cause - WFK Inc. accepted the request I made and gave the group 10 wheelchairs through a local group in Pampanga and there is Tchai, who I only knew from common friends until yesterday, lovely lady and I see myself on her, advocating for the same causes - ideas - dream of a better life for people using assistive devices -- that it should be APPRORPIATE and of course the SKSV members - officers, board and supporters who are very receptive though limited had shown me the "can do" spirit that is why it's hard to refuse helping them. I hope that doing this first step brings them to a bigger adventure towards "good service delivery" and they will need all your help and support to make this happen for them and for the people with disability in San Pedro. The photos below showcase the discussion the group had with Tchai on "how to start a pilot wheelchair service delivery" ... a BIG STEP for a worthy cause! :Let's support. I always believe in free expression so I hope with this blog I won't be imposing something others don't like. In the developing world, Philippines included, many countries donate with good intentions goods that are sometimes (if not often) are not appropriate and those would end up either in pile of rubbish or end up being used because it's donated and it's free - so why waste something given for free even if its ill fitting and causing more harm than good. I understand also that sometimes most of the donations are never before seen contraptions in developing countries - like hydraulic lift in countries where electricity let alone water is a big problem or walkers with wheels the size that could fit 5 malnourished children in a country were asphalt road is a dream or wheelchairs made of mono block. The intentions are there i get it but maybe it's also good to ask and see if "old" stuffs are really needed by developing country - remember these countries have recycling problems let alone disposal especially of e-waste when you donate obsolete computers. When I was in Timor we chased away the image of fiberglass (airport) chairs with wheels donated to the country in the 90's and instead promoted better quality chairs coupled with training and standards to follow. It's not easy of course -- because it's not free. The chairs are bought with donors money but are given to clients for free -- so for service delivery facilities if they want to stick to the standard has to raise enough funds to buy good quality chairs for over $100 and deliver them for free to the people with disability to respond to their mobility needs so they can go to school or work and even play basketball. I also remember receiving personal energy transport chairs -- which I know we used in Africa but not advised in Timor because of the standards being implemented by the organization but we were able to find good use for those colorful wooden chairs by removing the chain and donating it to kindergarten schools all around the capital for the use of the children as play thing and it worked perfectly. That was an exemption -- incorporating play in children education is something new in Timor so it was a welcome toy. So now I am home and I think I will be staying here for a while I see this monoblock chairs being distributed to disability groups and I start to think -- is my country really that desperate to accept that badly designed chairs to respond to the needs of wheelchair in the country? I don't think so because I know of organization who delivers good quality chairs - modified to clients needs (maybe) or in Mindanao there's a local company that produce standard wheelchairs although cost wise it's not very affordable. Now I ask ... if you have a choice, which one would you choose? Please don't forget to vote below for the design you think you, or your clients, children, niece, nephew etc. needs. Note that these are only few of the chairs available in the market that are often donated for free to different countries. If you know of any other design feel free to upload here to give people options if they are offered donations again in the future. If you want to know more just leave your question here. |
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