PIDS slates survey on Cebu’s PWDs

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Institute for Development Studies and Institute of Developing Economies are set to conduct a socioeconomic survey of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Cebu province.

In a statement, the Philippine Statistics Authority said this is in line with the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, one of which aims to address disability issues.

"This is the third PIDS survey that focuses on the socioeconomic activities of PWDs. The first survey was conducted in selected areas in Metro Manila in 2008 while the second was conducted in Rosario, Batangas in 2010," PSA said.

 The survey seeks to understand the disability-poverty relationship in the Philippines by comparing situations of women and children with disabilities in one rural and one urban area.

PSA said the survey will be conducted in Mandaue City and municipality of San Remegio in Cebu.

"A total of 200 respondents will be selected and will be asked about their economic activities, personal and household income, membership in disability self-help organizations, and awareness of the various policies intended for PWDs," the statistics agency noted. 

In March 2013, a PIDS discussion paper by Christian D. Mina revealed that the proportion of employed PWDs in the urban area was slightly higher than that in rural area.

Among PWD groups, those who were hearing-impaired recorded the highest employment rate in the rural area, followed closely by those who were mobility-impaired, that study further said.

It also revealed the leading occupation among PWDs in the urban area was being a masseur while in the rural area, PWDs were more engaged in farming and livestock and poultry raising.

The Cebu survey will cost P 1.2 million to cover personal, travel, communication and training expenses. Survey results are expected to be released in September this year.

PWD residents of Mandaue City and San Remegio town are urged to respond accordingly and support the conduct of the survey to improve the accuracy of disability statistics in the country. (FREEMAN)