DFA Mindanao Celebrates National Disabilities Week
Department of Foreign Affairs in Mindanao Acting Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer Jr. (second from left, seated) leads the consular offices in Mindanao and Davao personnel on the observance of the 40th National Disabilities Prevention and Rehabilitation Week 2018, with invited guests Atty. Arsenio Caballero Jr. (center, seated), and Andre Bulay (third from right, seated). (Emelito Terantel photo)
DAVAO CITY 06 August 2018 – In observance of the 40th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week 2018 and with the theme “Kakayahan at Kasanayan Para sa Kabuhayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Mindanao and Davao Consular Office organized a short program at its premises on 23 July 2018.
The program started with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by welcome remarks by Consular Office Davao Officer-in-Charge Ebrahim T. Zailon.
This was followed by a lecture on the history of NDPR by Citywide Federation of Persons with Disability President Andre C. Bulay, a polio victim himself. He explained the importance of the celebration, and shared the various programs and projects of the city and its continuing efforts in uplifting the economic and social welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the city.
Davao City Legal Office’s Atty. Arsenio E. Caballero Jr., who was born with a congenital amputation (amputated right arm and with artificial lower right leg), gave a brief lecture on the rights of PWDs, highlighting some important points in the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
In sharing his own personal experience, Atty. Caballero said that his disabilities did not hinder him from dreaming big and making those dreams into realities. He mentioned that with determination and hard work, differently abled persons like him can develop their skills and potentials to enable them to compete favorably for available opportunities.
During the open forum, Atty. Caballero happily shared his recent experience when he applied for a passport at the consular office. He said that he was very well accommodated, and that the processing did not take him long. The importance of putting up a counter for PWDs and provision of a wheelchair were also discussed.
Mr. Bulay and Atty. Caballero mentioned that their offices are willing to assist the DFA in any concerns regarding its PWDs’ clients.
DFA Mindanao Acting Assistant Secretary Robert O. Ferrer Jr. delivered the closing remarks, thanking the guests for imparting important points on NDPR and raising awareness on the matter, and for sharing their own personal experiences. He also shared that disabilities could mean a physical or mental impairment, such as emotional depression. The first step is to acknowledge that one has a disability.
Acting Assistant Secretary Ferrer also presented certificates of appreciation to the resource speakers, followed with the recitation of Loyalty Pledge on the Rights of PWDs.
As tokens of appreciation, the Acting Assistant Secretary presented to the resource speakers with copies of the book “Be His Hands” by Nick Vujicic, a well-known Christian author and motivational speaker who has no legs and no arms. END
Acting Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer Jr. and Consular Office Davao Officer-in-Charge Ebrahim Zailon present a certificate of appreciation to Atty. Arsenio Caballero Jr. (Jubelle Maturan photo)