A hub of empowerment for persons with disabilities to rise soon

The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) strengthens its commitment to empower persons with disabilities during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Model Disability and Resource Development Center (DRDC) on February 24, 2017. The DRDC is envisioned to be the hub of information, program and policy development, capacity building, and networking for its stakeholders.

The project, which can be replicated by local government units and regions, was developed by the participants of Australian Awards Fellowship Program in 2015. The core group is composed of representatives from NCDA and Philippine government agencies. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will fund the accessible and state-of-the-art five-storey building.

Carmen Reyes Zubiaga, acting executive director of NCDA, shares that the DRDC will serve as a special venue for skills training and will also showcase an accessible library. The center will also feature mobility aids and devices, multipurpose events center, and an accessible dormitory.

Also present in the event is Undersecretary Malou Turalde of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who is also an advocate of empowering persons with disabilities. According to her, "It is passion that drives us to fight and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, especially the poor."

Aside from the groundbreaking ceremony, CBM took part in the multi-stakeholder’s forum where ideas and recommendations were gathered to ensure that programs will be accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities.