MALATE, Manila- In observance of the 39th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA reveals that 14,453 poor individuals regionwide have disability based on Listahanan database.

This year’s celebration embraces the theme, “Karapatan at Pribilehiyo ng Maykapansanan: Isakatuparan at Ipaglaban”, which emphasizes the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities (PWD) to be fully realized.

Listahanan, a government mechanism to determine who and where the poor are, shows that 3,192 poor PWDs are identified in Occidental Mindoro; 3,272 in Oriental Mindoro; 1,073 in Marinduque; 1,559 in Romblon and 5,357 in Palawan.

“Commemorating this annual celebration, the DSWD will be having advocacy activities to fuel public awareness on the issues and problems face by the PWD sector,” said DSWD Regional Director Wilma Naviamos.

From the identified poor PWDs, 7,995 (55.3%) are male and 6,458 (44.7%) female.

It is also reported that the top five towns with the highest poor individuals with disability are Puerto Princesa, Palawan with 1,076; Sablayan with 905 and San Jose with 826 in Occidental Mindoro; Taytay with 575 and Quezon with 371 in Palawan.

DSWD also encourages every citizen to take active responsibility in uplifting the economic and social conditions of all persons with disabilities in the society.

The NDPR week will be celebrated in Odiongan, Romblon on July 19-20, 2017 which will be attended by various national and local government units, and other social protection stakeholders promoting the welfare of PWD sector. ###