Filipinos to Celebrate the International Day of PWDs

By: Ranilo Sorongon, ASP Executive Director

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that persons with disabilities account for 15% of the world’s total population (2010 global population estimates). Recognizing the needs of this sector, the United Nations declared December 3 of each year as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, aiming to promote the rights and welfare of this marginalized, and often neglected members of society.

Wheelchair logo

For this year’s celebration, the theme “Together for a Better World for All: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development” was adopted to push for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all development initiatives.

Part of the series of activities of the celebration is a Walk for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with a specific theme, “Make the Right Real Together for a Better Asia and the Pacific for All” scheduled on December 2 Friday, 7:30AM at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

A Working Committee, headed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), United Nations Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SM Supermalls, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Autism Society Philippines (ASP) was tasked to ensure the success of this event.

More than 3,000 participants coming from organizations, persons with disabilities, children with disabilities, parents, advocates, representatives of the Local Government Units and special guests are expected to attend. Delegates from other countries who will be attending the 2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress and guests from UN Agencies like the WHO, UNESCAP and UNICEF are also joining.

Everyone is invited to join this momentous event. Free registration and complimentary t-shirts and simple snacks will be given on a first come first served basis to the first 3,000 participants; courtesy of the organizers and sponsors of the event.

Bring a banner of your institution for identification! Let’s celebrate and be counted!