DUMINGAG, Zamboanga del Sur, 10 Oct. (PIA)—At least ten persons with disabilities (PWDs) received wheel chairs from the local government during the Office of the Senior Citizen Association (OSCA) and Person With Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO’s) Night held at the night market on Saturday here.

Mayor Gerry Paglinawan said that the local government allocated funds to purchase assistive devices that are needed by the most vulnerable sectors of our society--the senior citizens and PWDs.

"I am very happy to see our beneficiaries who cannot stand and walk with big smiles on their faces when they receive these assistive devices provided by our local government," Paglinawan said.

"Their lives are miserable if they only live in their house and don't have time to go out because they don't have a wheelchair to ride. They cannot enjoy their life. That's why we immediately bought assistive devices for them to use," Paglinawan added.

Provincial PDAO Head Mirriam Llanos, the current national president of PDAO, thanked the mayor for his great support to the OSCA and PWD sector in the municipality.

Llanos said that although Paglinawan assumed office as elected mayor of the town of Dumingag in the past four months, he has given great attention to the needs of the sector by allocating funds to the PDAO office, employing several PWDs in various offices and fully implements and complies with disability laws.

"The commendable act of the Mayor serves to encourage other municipalities to establish PDAO offices to fully serve senior citizens and PWDs," Llanos said.

The LGU held the OSCA and PDAO night so that the wheelchairs will be formally given to the beneficiaries and at the same time, they can show their talents in dancing, singing and playing rondalla to entertain the visitors and the people.

It can be recalled that the local government of Dumingag emerged as the champion of the Search for the Most PWD-Friendly LGU at the Founding Anniversary celebration in Zamboanga del Sur in September 2022 due to compliance and implementation of disability laws in their town.

The recipients of assistive devices are as follows: Cheryl Dolar-Barangay Lower Landing, Andrea Mae Abrasaldo- Barangay San Pedro, Angelou Ningasca- Barangay Marangan, Aurealie Dela Torre- Barangay Lower Landing, Charlyn Sumandoran- Barangay Caridad, Aimee Ebod- Barangay Marangan , Evelyn Cayabao- Barangay Lower Timonan, John Cris Puno- Barangay Dulop, Ram Jay Bituro- Lower Timonan, and Windelle Dagooc- Lower Landing. (RVC/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)