Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) trained under the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) won seven medals for their excellent performance in various sports during the recently-concluded Philippine Paralympic National Games (PPNG) at the Marikina Sports Complex.
The gold medalist were Augusto Hernandez, wheelchair user, who won in the Discus Throw competition; Romeo Tayama and Christine Potot, who topped the powerlifting competition, exceling in their respective divisions, 125-kg and 40-kg categories, respectively.
On the other hand, Carlo John Nuyda brought pride to the center when he garnered two silver medals for the Shot Put and Long Jump competitions despite being a left leg amputee.
Likewise, despite having an intellectual disability, Christian R. Casipit showed his competence in the Ten Pin Bowling category bagging a silver medal.
Meanwhile, Marlon Merencillo, orthopaedically impaired, got a bronze medal in the Single Standing Table Tennis competition.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the players once again proved that disabilities are not obstacle to success.
“DSWD will continue to support PWDs through developmental programs and services aimed at improving their physical and psycho-social functioning for them to be productive citizens,” Sec. Soliman added.
The PPNG is a yearly event of the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled-National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (PHILSPADA-NPC Philippines). It aims to discover national athlete that can compete in the ASEAN Sports competition, which will be held in Malaysia in 2017.
NVRC is a non- residential facility that implements programs and provides services to PWDs and other special groups particularly on vocational, social rehabilitation, and skills training for their socio-economic independence and productivity. It also assists PWDs in finding jobs suited to their skills, interest and qualifications.
To date, a total of 110 male and female PWDs are being served by the center. ###
