ASP Executive Director, Ranil Sorongon joined 15 PWDs from the Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas (KAMPI), to attend President Aquino’s 100 Days Address at La Consolacion College, Manila last October 7.
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| ASP Executive Director, Ranilo Sorongon (right) with other PWDs from KAMPI |
The address
“Report Kay Boss” (Report to the Boss), is the tag line chosen from PNoy’s Inaugural Address last July,
“Kayo ang Boss Ko” (You are the Boss). The President’s accomplishment report focused on the administration’s success in bringing back the trust and confidence of the Filipino people, the business sector and the foreign investors in the government.
One of the highlights of the report is his
“Matuwid na Daan” slogan, which signified his political will to cancel anomalous government contracts, resulting to multi-million savings. President Aquino also posted a challenge to all Filipino people to join him in his continuing journey towards
“Matuwid na Landas”.
“Many quarters would criticize or protest that the President did not include their respective sectors or that no concrete accomplishments were done. But I firmly believe that ‘winning back the trust and confidence of the Filipino people’ is already one of his major accomplishments. This will propel us, as a people, to reach our goals,” said Sorongon.
Education for All
After PNoy’s address, four representatives, a teacher, a government employee, an army personnel and an outsourcing agent were called on stage. Each was given the opportunity to ask the President directly about his programs for their respective sector.
“During the forum, four students, from the front row of were I was seated, stood up and shouted at the top of their voices. In chorus they protested the cutting down of government subsidy to StateColleges and Universities in the country,” Sorongon informed.
The students from University of the Philippines, Manila, aired their grievances on the proposed budget cuts for the 2011 budget, annual increases on tuition and other fees; plus the added burden to the poor families who cannot afford to send their children to school- from elementary to college.
After their short stint, music was played as the students were escorted out of the auditorium.
“I commend the Presidential Security Group (PSG) for handling the situation peacefully. It’s a proof that freedom of speech is alive in our country,” said Sorongon. “Of course, I was surprised and nervous witnessing the incident, but I salute the President for letting the students air their convictions.“
Instead of continuing to answer the question of the soldier, the President chose to answer the students’ plight,
“Wag nating kalimutan ang education, di lamang po yung CHED, yung tertiary level, meron rin po tayong DepEd na kasama, meron ring TESDA. Baka pwede pong tignan kung ano kalaki ang inilaki ng budget po ng DepEd, para ma-alala po natin na di pinababayaan ang edukasyon.”
“Let us not forget, that education is not only limited to CHED (Commission on Higher Education), the tertiary level; we also have DepEd (Department of Education) and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority).
The President then addressed his next statements to Bro. Luistro, Education Secretary,
“Maybe we can look into how much funding was added to the budget of DepEd, lest we take education for granted.”
“ASP, being a member of the PWD sector, has the responsibility to demand from the Philippine government. Being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), our government must fulfill all its provisions, including education for all.”
Sorongon is also passionate about education for all, as he is chairman of the Education Committee of the National Anti-Poverty Commission’s Persons with Disability Sector (NAPC-PWD). “No child should be left behind, including children with autism and other special needs,”
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On Oct. 16, educator My Sorongon conducts ASP seminar-workshop on “Caring for the Caregivers” while author Christine Roa facilitates the monthly family support group meeting.
ASP Cebu Chapter hosts 2nd Regional Conference on Autism, “The Spinning Truth behind the Spectrum,” on Oct. 23-24, at SM Cebu Trade Hall featuring at least 13 well-known Metro Manila and Cebu practitioners and advocates. For more details, visit autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com.
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