30 July 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Agana joined the rest of the country in observing the 37th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week with this year’s theme, “Health and Wellness Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Toward Inclusive Development for All.” The annual event aims to promote and advocate equal quality health care and services for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
On July 28, the Consulate General’s officers and staff marked their observance of NDPR week by wearing green attire, the official color of NDPR. Also, the Consulate General encouraged everyone who visited the Consulate on that day to wear green as a show of support for persons with disabilities. Applicants with disability who came to the Consulate on that day were also given priority attention in serving their consular needs.
In the afternoon, Philippine Consul General Marciano R. de Borja was joined by Consul Mark Francis C. Hamoy and three Consulate General staff in a courtesy call at the Guam Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID). In his courtesy call on DISID Director Benito Servino, who is himself a polio victim, Consul General de Borja emphasized how the Philippines has made its advocacy of issues related to persons with disabilities among its highest priorities in various international forums, including the United Nations. During their discussion, Director Servino also identified possible areas of cooperation between the Consulate General and DISID in support of persons with disabilities.
The meeting with Director Servino was followed by a brief tour of the DISID Assistive Technology Computer Laboratory and a briefing at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) conference room on the various services offered by DISID to eligible PWDs.
Mr. Alvin Ancheta, one of the DVR staff, delivered a presentation about the DVR’s functions. The DVR is one of two divisions in DISID that is tasked with assisting any person with disabilities in preparing for, securing, retaining or regaining employment so that they can lead full and productive lives. DISID is also fully conscious of its role in ensuring that persons with disabilities are empowered toward economic self-sufficiency, independence, and full inclusion and integration into society.
During the presentation, Mr. Ancheta cited the fact that DISID often relies on Philippine-based companies in providing artificial prosthesis and rehabilitating those who are fitted with the prosthetic limbs. DISID also expressed a desire to collaborate with various Philippine entities that can help train PWDs in Guam on how to start and manage their own small- and medium-scale businesses.
At the end of the program, Consul General de Borja presented Director Servino a token cake decorated with the 2015 NDPR logo for the DISID officers and staff. END