Mindanaotoday.com | Differently-abled women in NorMin call for inclusivity
By: Theresa Arlene Gambe
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In pushing for women’s empowerment, inclusivity of differently-abled women in government programs, and gender equality, the Differently-Abled Women Network (DAWN) CDO Chapter held its first region-wide convention of women with disabilities at the De Luxe Hotel, here, on April 3-4.
“This has been a long dream for the women. You know, when we conduct a big activity, it entails quite a lot of money, but we cannot afford that. This time around, since last Monday of March is proclaimed Women with Disabilities Day, that is Proclamation No. 744, we took that as our anchor to access the support from the different government agencies,” said Melagros Maquiling, president of DAWN.
The two-day convention was sponsored by the local government agencies of the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG).
Participated in by over 100 beneficiaries from Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, the conference covered a series of lectures on the “Safe Spaces Act,” Gender and Development, participation in governance, financial literacy, and career opportunities. The event was then concluded with the live election and declaration of DAWN’s new set of officers.
Maquiling expressed their current campaign for the bill for social protection, which is currently in Congress.
The bill supports funds for persons with disabilities, which can help persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the costs of their assistive devices and maintenance medicine, among others.
“We need opportunities that can develop talents and skills. Once these are developed, they have to be tapped to boost their morale. PWDs are demoralized from the start due to brokenness. In the past, we were really left behind, but now, since a lot of people are already working for the sector, at least it’s been developed. We are now agents of change; it’s not just women without disabilities,” said Maquiling.
Two weeks prior to the convention, DAWN’s leaders responded to the invitation of A Brown Company Inc. and Community Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET) by joining the launch of Cagayan de Oro’s first e-bus or electronic shuttle that is accessible for PWDs. (TAAG | PIA-10)
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