A two-day sign language training was offered by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) to Caloocan City frontliners, Barangay PWD Focal Persons, and PWD Groups for an effective and inclusive delivery of service to the deaf and hard of hearing communities.
The program also featured sensitivity training aimed at proper communication with people from other disability types, including visual, mental, intellectual, learning, speech, psychosocial, physical, cancer, and rare diseases.
Michael Ramos, PDAO Officer-in-Charge, expressed his gratitude towards City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan for supporting these initiatives that may seem simple and mundane, but have an unquantifiable impact on the relay of services to PWD communities in the city.
“Nagpapasalamat po tayo kay sa pagkakataon na matuto, kahit mga simpleng pamamaraan para makipag-usap sa ating mga kababayang bahagi ng deaf/hard of hearing community. Kaakibat din nito ang tamang pakikibahagi, pakikipag-usap at pakikisalamuha sa mga taong may kapansanan upang mismong sa ating mga frontliners magmula ang pagmamalasakit sa kanilang mga hinaing o pangangailangan,” Mr. Ramos said.
Mayor Along affirms the significance of having more accessible services for PWDs and vows to continue the efforts already initiated by the city government to create a safe space for all of his constituents.
“Ang mga PWD po ay kasama rin sa mga Batang Kankaloo na nagtitiwala sa ating pamamahala. Hindi pwede sa akin na hindi buo ang serbisyong natatanggap nila mula sa pamahalaang lungsod dahil sa kanilang kapansanan kaya naman patuloy tayong gagawa ng paraan upang mas mailapit din ang aksyon at malasakit sa kanila,” the City Mayor declared.
“Mula sa mas maayos na komunikasyon, hanap-buhay, at iba pang mga benepisyo, gagawin po natin ang lahat ng kaya nating ibigay nang sa gayon ay maprotektahan natin ang karapatan at interes ng mga kapatid nating PWD,” he added.
Renowned inclusivity and accessibility advocates Mr. Remberto Esposa, Mr. Ervin Reyes, Mr. Elizar Bic Pingos, and Ms. Alexandra Dominguez served as speakers and trainers for the two-day event.
