AC mayoralty bet vows to increase PWD budget

ANGELES CITY— Opposition Councilor and mayoralty aspirant Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr., during the get-together celebration of persons with disabilities (PWsD) in Barangay Pulung Cacutud last January 12, announced that he would push for the increase in the yearly budget allocation for PWD programs if he is elected mayor of this city.

Lazatin said he will allocate an annual budget of P10-million for PWD programs.

In 2018, the city government allocated P2million for the city integrated program for differently-abled persons and P104,031 for social welfare programs for the welfare of PWDs.

For 2019, the city government allocated P2-million to the PWD affairs office and P144,031 for social welfare programs for the welfare of PWDs.

Lazatin noted that this amount is small compared to the total budget of the city.

Section 4 of Republic Act 10070 or the Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277,

otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, as amended, prescribes that “Local government units shall likewise ensure that the necessary fund from any available local revenues is allocated for the implementation of this Act for the benefit of PWDs in their jurisdictions.”

Lazatin also stressed that he will make sure that provisions of R.A. 9442 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons will be fully implemented in the city, such as the 20 percent discount in medicines and other medical needs of PWDs.Lazatin said that he will allocate additional funds for the construction of an office for PWD affairs that is more “PWD-friendly.” “It is not enough that we provide services for PWDs. We also have to make these services more accessible to them, which starts with making our PWD offices more ‘PWD-friendly,’especially in terms of comfort and mobility,” said Lazatin.

He added that the city government “will provide skills training and if possible even start up money to PWDs to start their own source of livelihood.”

Last December, Lazatin also announced that when elected, he will focus on implementing programs to enhance the quality of day care centers and capabilities of day care teachers in this city, in continuation of the programs started by his late father, former three-term Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin. “With the budget of our city, this is highly plausible. This is just a small amount considering that we are talking about building a foundation of knowledge among the children of our city,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin added that he will also endeavor to raise the status of day care teachers and focus on enhancing their capabilities. (Press Release)