QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Wednesday ordered the distribution program of wheelchairs under the “Handog sa Bayan, Serbisyong Caravan” to ensure the effective delivery of basic health and services to underprivileged city residents.
Aside from wheelchairs, canes, walkers and crutches, Bautista ordered the city government to set aside a one percent of the annual budget for programs that will redound to the benefit of persons with disability.
He said the move is imperative to the city government’s continuing effort to mainstream PWDs in all government programs, and to open opportunities toward an inclusive society for all.
“What the city is doing is planning our investments for us to able to address the city’s various health challenges, especially those concerns affecting PWDs in the city,” he said.
Based on the latest summary distribution report submitted by Emy Duran, officer in charge of the city’s rapid team, 3,678 wheelchairs, 868 canes, 182 walkers and 147 crutches have already been distributed by the city government.
“What we are doing right now is provide mobility to physically challenged but underprivileged city residents,” she said, adding the beneficiaries are those who really cannot afford to buy a wheelchair.
Benjamin Agustin, 60, of Barangay Commonwealth, is one of the 4,000 physically challenged city residents that were provided free wheelchairs by Bautista for the past three years.
Meanwhile, the search is on for this year’s outstanding residents and organizations of Quezon City.
“The search process formally begun with the convening of the Board of Judges headed by former UP president Dr. Emerlinda Roman, also 2007 Gawad Parangal Awardee,” Dr. Manuel S. Alba, ex-officio chairman of the Manuel L. Quezon Gawad Parangal, said.
Among the recipients of last year’s Gawad Parangal were: the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, and actress Jaclyn Jose.
Some of the past winners include: the late president Corazon Aquino, former president Benigno Aquino III, former vice president Teofisto Guingona, pediatrician Fe del Mundo, actress-social worker Rosa Rosal, former vice mayors Charito Planas and Connie Angeles, Asia’s fastest woman Lydia de Vega, Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta, the late former Comelec commissioner Haydee Yorac;
Composer George Canseco, anti-crime activist Teresita Ang See; the late former senator Juan Flavier, the late actor German Moreno, the late King of Comedy Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon, actress Nora Aunor and film director Brillante Mendoza.
The Manuel L. Quezon Gawad Parangal is an annual award given to outstanding residents of Quezon City who come from various fields of endeavor.