In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to bring the programs of the government closer to persons with disabilities, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted a nationwide simultaneous payout activity for its Cash-for-Work (CFW) for persons with disabilities on December 3, 2022.
The activity entitled, “BUHAYnihan or Buhay at Bayanihan para sa Mamamayan Cash-for-Work for Persons with Disabilities” was spearheaded by the DSWD Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).
About 264,186 persons with disabilities around the country received assistance from the CFW program of KALAHI-CIDSS.
The CFW aims to distribute cash support to beneficiaries in exchange for their rendered community work. It also aims to provide short-term intervention by giving temporary employment to low income or no income families with members who have disabilities.
In case the person with disability-beneficiary cannot perform the assigned job because of physical limitation, they may recommend a member of their family to do the task on their behalf.
Each beneficiary was given the opportunity to work for six to ten days with the corresponding daily wage based on the 2022 Regional Daily Wage Rate of their region.
The payout of the CFW program was held in various regions across the country and was graced by DSWD executive committee members, including Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo who attended the activity in Pililla, Rizal.
During his message at the payout activity, Secretary Tulfo regarded the contributions of persons with disability in the growth of the country. He said, “Hindi po limos ang ibinigay sa inyo ng gobyerno. Ito po ay pinagtrabahuhan ninyo ng ilang araw sa ilalim po ng tinatawag na cash-for-work program ng DSWD. Kaya huwag ninyong iisipin na kayo ay walang silbi sa mundong ito. Kayo po ay may silbi. Ang tatanggapin ninyo ay pinaghirapan ninyo. Hindi naniniwala ang gobyerno na kapag kayo ay may kapansanan ay wala na kayong silbi. May silbi kayo. Habang may buhay ay may pag-asa. (What you have received from the government is not alms. It is in exchange of what you have worked for in the past few days under the cash-for-work program of the DSWD. So do not think that you are useless in this world. Each one of you has a contribution to share. What you will receive today is a fruit of what you have worked for. The government does not believe that if you have disabilities you are useless. You are important, and as long as there is life there is hope).”
Meanwhile, Gerry Sto. Domingo, one of the persons with disabilities who received cash assistance, expressed his gratitude for being one of the chosen beneficiaries of the CFW program.
“Ako po ay isa sa mga nakilahok sa paglilinis sa aming barangay, kabilang ang pamahalaang barangay, barangay center, barangay covered court, barangay day care center, at kasama ang pagtatanim ng halaman sa paligid ng aming barangay. Sa mga gawain pong ito napatunayan ko po na ang isang person with disability na kagaya ko ay may puwang at silbi sa ating pamayanan. Kasama na rin po nito ang pagpapahalaga ko sa aking sarili. At napatunayan ko na ang aking kapansanan ay hindi hadlang upang ako ay makapag-ambag ng isang makabuluhang gawain sa ating lipunan. (I am one of those who participated in cleaning our barangay, including the barangay main office, barangay center, barangay covered court, barangay day care center, as well as planting around the office’s vicinity. Through these activities, I have proven that a person with disability like me has a valuable contribution to our community. My self-esteem also increased because I have proven that my disability is not an obstacle in providing meaningful contributions to our society),” Sto. Domingo shared.
The Department hopes to create more transformative solutions that will help empower persons with disabilities to improve their capabilities and, eventually help break the social barriers that hinder their full participation on an equal basis with others. ###
