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(From left to right) NCDA Director Carmen R. Zubiaga, DSWD Undersecretary Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarabe, DPWH Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo Jr., DOJ Undersecretary Deo Marco, DICT Director Nestor Bengato, and Mr. Arnold De Guzman of Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Disability Resource and Development Center (DRDC).
(From left to right) NCDA Director Carmen R. Zubiaga, DSWD Undersecretary Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarabe, DPWH Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo Jr., DOJ Undersecretary Deo Marco, DICT Director Nestor Bengato, and Mr. Arnold De Guzman of Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Disability Resource and Development Center (DRDC).

Good news for persons with disabilities (PWDs)!

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the National Council on Disability Affairs  (NCDA) will soon construct a model Disability Resource and Development Center (DRDC) which will serve as the hub for information, program and policy development, capacity building, and networking for all persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The DRDC will provide PWD skills training, as well as, display crafts made by PWDs. It will also showcase customized assistive devices such as wheelchairs that will help PWDs for easier mobility.

Aside from skills training, the DRDC will include a library and a computer center where PWDs can search for education and employment opportunities.

A groundbreaking ceremony of the DRDC was held recently at the NCDA compound in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City. It was graced by NCDA Governing Board representatives led by NCDA Executive Director Carmen R. Zubiaga, DSWD Undersecretary Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarabe, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo, Jr., Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Deo Marco, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Executive Director for Partnerships and Linkages Director Luz Amponin, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Director Nestor Bengato, DPWH Bureau of Design Director Dante Potante and Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office Head Arnold de Guzman.

“The construction of the DRDC will help strengthen employment facilitation for PWDs. We fully support this initiative and we encourage local government units to replicate the center in their own cities and municipalities so that they can help empower their constituents with disabilities and provide more inclusive development programs that are responsive to their needs,” the Secretary  added​.​

AmBisyon Natin 2040

Sec. Taguiwalo also explained that the construction of the DRDC is anchored on the Philippine’s new development framework dubbed as  “AmBisyon Natin 2040” which  promotes people-centered inclusive growth.

“One of the priorities of the AmBisyon Natin 2040 is to strengthen programs for PWDs through appropriate and stricter implementation of disability-related policies and programs, and the adoption of new strategies that will enhance the quality of employment, education, health care, and mobility of our stakeholders with disabilities,” said Sec. Taguiwalo. ###