PWD organization: Cash aid ‘criteria’ discriminating

CEBU, Philippines - While grateful for the possible increase in their financial assistance, members of Cebu City’s Federation of Persons With Disabilities oppose the suggestion to come up with a standard leveling on the aid amount.

Group President Danilo Omayan said the leveling is tantamount to “discrimination” on their part.

“Oppose g’yud mi aning leveling considering nga atong gitan-aw ani ang income, livelihood and current actual situation. I think in social concern naman lang gani, ila nalang klaruhon. Dili na lang nila hatagan og category. This is also considered as discrimination,” he said.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier asked the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services to formulate “fair and reasonable criteria” in determining how much a PWD would get from the city.

Rama said PWDs have different “level” of disabilities and that coming up with criteria would prevent others from taking advantage of the cash aid.

For Omayan, he does not believe that one would disable or hurt himself just to avail of the assistance.

“Before they approve the beneficiary, naa g’yud na’y medical certificate. Mao nay mo-confirm if you are really a PWD. In leveling, once ang doctor mosulti nga PWD, that is already a person with disability. Naglahi-lahi lang siguro iyang situation,” he said, as he appealed to the city officials to reconsider their plight.

Omayan said he will meet with all the members of the federation regarding the issue.

Should the leveling be approved, Omayan said there should also be categorization for other beneficiaries of the city’s financial aid programs like the senior citizens.

“We are already bun-og naman. We don’t have enough in life. Ang amo sad pud ani, dili tanan PWD naa’y income. Unlike sa senior citizens, naa’y pensioners,” he added.

The City Council has asked the executive department to increase the financial assistance to PWDs in the city from P5,000 to P12,000 a year.

Rama, for his part, said it is the city government’s prerogative to set standards as to who will receive the cash assistance. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/NSA (FREEMAN)