Monthly honorarium for PWDs pushed

CEBU, Philippines – Association presidents coming from differently abled persons would enjoy monthly honorarium from Talisay City government if the proposed resolution sponsored by Councilor Antonio Bacaltos will be granted by Mayor Johnny De los Reyes.

Bacaltos, who is one of the members of the Committee on Social Services and Senior Citizens, said the PWD's leadership through their association presidents is a great way of implementing the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons.

"A grant of monthly honorarium is an explicit support for the Magna Carta as regards self-reliance of the PWDs," Bacaltos said.

He is asking for P500 in monthly honorarium for PWDs.

The resolution of Bacaltos was approved by the City Council recently and will be transmitted to De los Reyes for approval.

As stated in the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons (RA 7277), there is a need for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream society.

Last 2011, the council already approved the Federation of Differently Abled Talisaynons Inc. of Cebu (Fedatic).

The Fedatic is composed of 1,000 differently abled members from the 22 barangays of the city.

"A  grant of monthly honorarium to PWD presidents is giving credits to where it is due for their effort in the implementation of the Magna Carta. The empowerment and support for the persons with disability is crucial for nation building," Bacaltos added.

Also, the barangays already appropriated at least one percent of the annual budget of every barangay for projects that are meant to promote the welfare of the differently abled people.

Presidential Proclamation No. 240 declared the years 2003 to 2012 as the Philippine Decade of Persons with Disabilities.

The proclamation requires all department heads, chiefs of bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including local government officials, to implement plans, programs and activities for persons with disabilities based on the national plan of action for the ten-year period.

The funds needed to carry out the provisions of the proclamation will be sourced out by the concerned agencies from their annual appropriation, the amount of which shall not be less than one percent of each agency's total budget for the year.