THE Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) composed of National Government Agencies lauded five establishments recently for being “PWD (Persons with Disability) friendly.”
Commended were Iloilo Supermart-Atrium branch, Iloilo City Government, Association of Disabled Persons Incorporated Canteen, Decos Lapaz Batchoy-Valeria, Robinsons Mall and SM City Iloilo.
“The first four businesses have employees who are PWDs. The other two, which are both malls, have PWD-friendly features in their buildings,” said Dolores Laudenorio of Office of Persons with Disability Affairs-Iloilo City.
Laudenorio especially stressed the compliance of Robinson’s mall to its monitoring visit conducted last year. Recommendations—from establishing ramps, putting up a desk for PWDs, installing a table at the food court area specifically for PWDs, and making available a wheelchair for free use of customers—were immediately implemented.
“It is heartwarming to note that the mall management followed our recommendations. This is the kind of leadership that we want—such that recognizes the needs of disabled persons like us,” said Laudenorio.

HIRING PWDs
Judith Marte, focal person on PWDs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD6), likewise commended the establishments which believe in the capabilities of PWDs.
“This year, our advocacy is empowering the PWDs. They have capabilities and potentials. We are thus calling businesses and offices to hire them,” said Marte.
Iloilo Supermart has employees who are deaf mute working in packing groceries; Iloilo City government has PWD workers assigned in its different offices; Decos Lapaz Batchoy and ADPI also have staff who have disabilities.
“We hope that many more establishments will follow,” said Marte. /dswd6/May Rago-Castillo
Captions:
1. Members of the Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) visit Iloilo Supermart-Atrium branch and recognized the store’s move in hiring PWDs as employees. In photo are PWD workers and members of the media.
2. Dolores Laudenorio of Iloilo City Office of Persons with Disability Affairs (OPDA) try the ramp of Robinson’s Iloilo.
2