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| Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Josefina T. Ramirez with ASP E.D. Ranil Sorongon |
As a member of the Monitoring Committee on the Implementation of the Republic Act 9442 under the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), ASP's Executive Director Ranil Sorongon visited the local government office of Virac, Catanduanes, where he was welcomed by Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Josefina T. Ramirez.
Director Sorongon was briefed of the programs for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and was informed that their office only distributed 48 PWD IDs to individuals with physical disabilities. So far, no person with autism (PWA) has been registered. Their office provides medicine booklets so PWDs can avail discounts when buying medicines; but the purchase booklet on prime commodities is not yet available due to insufficient budget. Forms are also not readily available, as Sorongon discovered; and are only printed upon request.
After the MSWDO visit, Director Sorongon proceeded to survey commercial establishments in Virac on the compliance to RA 9442. At a branch of Mercury Drug, he was informed, to his relief, that the drugstore "gives discounts on medicine to PWDs, provided they have their ID and medicine discount booklet and the doctor’s prescription”. The newly-opened branch of Jollibee in the town also gives discounts to PWDs.
The Autism Society Philippines has high hopes that our ASP Catanduanes chapter, headed by Mrs. Marjorie Cantollas, will fervently champion the rights of individuals with autism and the benefits which our government extends to the disabled sector. We hope to see the improved knowledge and implementation of the laws meant to protect the welfare of PWDs.
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