CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The local government of Cagayan de Oro, through its Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Affairs Office, began its 5th search for the most PWD-friendly barangay on October 17.

Maria Liza G. Corpuz, Persons with Disability Affairs Officer, Cagayan de Oro City, shared in Talakayan sa PIA, a media forum at SM CDO Downtown Premier, that the search is not here to discriminate against barangays with poor implementation but to guide what they can do for the PWD sector.

The search started with nine barangays, followed by 13; last year, 16; and now 18.

“Ang ako nga pasudlon mi, nga i-allow mi nga pasudlon sailang balay. Deeper understanding: naa man gyud ang kamatuoran nga naa man gyud ang PWD bisan asa. From womb to tomb, from all walks of life, present man gyud siya, from professionals to beggars ang PWDs [Just let us in, to allow us (PWDs) to enter their homes with deeper understanding. The truth is, there is really a PWD anywhere. From womb to tomb, from all walks of life, PWDs are present, from professionals to beggars],” Corpuz said.

Punong barangay 14 Francisco Laihee shared that they always provide support to the barangays. Currently, they support the Blind Masseurs group in the Divisoria area.

“Ang barangay naa gyud pirmi nagasuporta. Ang mga serbisyo ginahatag gyud namo sa PWDs, especially sailang panginahanglanon labi na sa tambal ug education [Our barangay is here to support. The services we readily give to PWDs, especially with their needs such as medicine and education],” Laihee said.

For Barangay Camaman-an, Kagawad Carl Harrison Galaritta said, "We need to empower the PWDs because, at the end of the day, they are members of the barangay family. If we don't take care of them, they will be neglected."

Barangay Camaman-an is one of the advocates for PWDs. They have an ordinance that says a change of administration will not hamper programs for PWDs.

This year’s prizes include P50,000 (1st), P40,000 (2nd), and P30,000 (3rd). (JMOR/PIA-10)