Quezon town to hold ‘Disability Expo’ to empower PWDs

LUCENA CITY — The local government of Infanta, Quezon will bring together persons with disabilities (PWDs), their families, and key stakeholders for its first “Disability Expo” on July 15 and 16 to promote inclusion, strengthen access to government services, and advance their rights and welfare.

According to the municipal government, the two-day event will feature a wide range of learning sessions, forums, and service caravans designed to address the needs of the disability sector.

The expo will include discussions on disability rights, disaster preparedness, livelihood and employment opportunities, and youth leadership for persons with disabilities.

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Under the Lingap Agenda of Mayor Lord Arnel Ruanto, the local government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that no resident is left behind.

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READ: Registered PWDs in PH now at 2.5M

“As part of this commitment, persons with disabilities in the municipality continue to receive prompt care, assistance, and inclusive government services,” the municipal government said in a social media post on Friday, July 3.

The event will also provide free medical consultations, hearing assessments, and the distribution of assistive devices to qualified beneficiaries.

Government agencies, including PhilHealth, the Local Civil Registry Office, and the Office of the Municipal Agriculture, will set up service booths to offer information and deliver frontline services to participants.

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Preparations for the event are being led by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), headed by Liezl Pilotin, in coordination with various local government offices and stakeholders.

The municipality will also officially launch the PDAO App, which is expected to improve access to information and services for persons with disabilities.

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The Disability Expo comes amid renewed calls to promote respect and inclusion for persons with disabilities following the recent “One Wish Willow” social media trend, which allegedly mocked people with disabilities.

The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) has condemned the trend, saying it misused the phrase “I wish I was special” to ridicule serious disabilities for entertainment, describing the content as “deeply disrespectful and dehumanizing.”

The NCDA said it has reported the trend to TikTok for possible violations of the platform’s community guidelines.

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Citing the Magna Carta for PWD, the council also reminded the public that mocking or ridiculing persons with disabilities through any form of media is prohibited by law. /das