DILG, NGO ink pact to help physically challenged kids
Less fortunate children with disabilities (CWDs) are now expected to improve their conditions following free access to occupational, physical and speech therapy services through teletherapy.
This came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Adults and Children with Handicap Foundation, Inc. (REACH Foundation) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at providing assistance to CWDs through teletherapy.
Teletherapy is a remote therapy that uses technology to help the therapist and patient communicate using the phone, videoconferencing and other online platforms.
REACH Foundation president, Prof. Abelardo “Archie” Apollo I. David, Jr., said that teletherapy is an innovative approach to therapy that lets CWDs receive needed care through a secure video connection.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos expressed his gratitude to the REACH Foundation for being a longtime partner organization of the DILG in helping CWDs and their families.
REACH Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 2005 in response to the need for adequate and appropriate rehabilitation services for less privileged persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“These are our heroes. Our experience should be shared all over the country and, of course, what REACH is doing,” Abalos said.
Abalos said the partnership is a sustainable way to help CWDs and their families get the support they need.
“Kung makikita niyo, it’s very sustainable. And it’s not only intervention of the young children, but empowering also the parents,” Abalos said as parents that have been trained already are also expected to cascade their learning to other parents with CWDs in their community.
According to the DILG, there are approximately 270,000 CWDs or one child under 15 years old for every five PWDs in the Philippines.
DILG, according to Abalos, is looking into the possibility of including the care and support being provided by LGUs to CWDs as one of assessment points in handing out DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance award.
Meanwhile, the DILG is calling on nominations for non-government organization (NGO) representatives to the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC).
The IACVAWC is looking for an NGO to represent advocacy, another for legal assistance and another one to represent service provision.
For further inquiries, one may contact the IACVAWC Secretariat at (02) 8735-1654 loc 123/124 or (0945) 455 8121 or iacvawc@pcw.gov.ph
Interested NGOs may submit the duly accomplished nomination form and supporting documents until May 15, 2024, to the IACVAWC Secretariat through email at iacvawc@pcw.gov.ph or through physical mail at 1145 J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila 1005.