CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes on Wednesday turned over more than P2,000,000 worth of financial assistance to the persons with disabilities (PWD) in a brief ceremony at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Each of the PWDs received P1,000 from this cash assistance, which is given to them every year as part of their benefits as member of the Office of Differently Abled PWDs Affairs (ODAPA).
Cortes said the giving of financial assistance to PWDs is part of the city’s goal to “empower” the differently abled individuals as part of the community.
He said he wants the PWDs to become active members of the community, hence the government is "doing its best to support them."
For his part, Councilor Jun Cortes, who chairs the Committee on Social Services, assured the PWDs that by next year, they will receive P2,000 each.
“Ako nagtuo nga kada usa kaninyo adunay ikatampo alang sa kaayuhan sa atong dakbayan mao kini hinungdan nganong daghan kaninyo ang atong gi-empleyo sa atong kagamhanan. Gani pipila ang gisangonan sa dakong katungdanan,” he said.
Joseph Jumantoc, president of PWD federation and head of ODAPA, said he is happy with the programs that the city has for them.
He said that under the administration of Cortes, every barangay has allotted one percent of its annual budget for them and the senior citizens.
“This is the greatest contribution of the Cortes administration; this helps us getting empowered,” he said.
A total of 2,672 PWDs were present the other day to receive their cash assistance. (FREEMAN)