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The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program served 32,336 PWD beneficiaries from 129 LGUs in Central Visayas through a cash-for-work program for persons with disabilities, releasing a total of Php 128.6 million in cash.

Felipe B. Espinosa, a PWD beneficiary from San Miguel, Bohol, receives Php 4,350 from the cash-for-work program.

With the theme “BUHAYnihan: Buhay at Bayanihan para sa Mamamayan,” the CFW program funded by the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) modality aims to give financial assistance to PWDs in exchange for community service or tasks.

The PWD beneficiaries worked for 6-10 days in their respective communities and received the minimum regional wage of Php 435.00 per day.

Among the common types of work agreed upon between the LGUs and PWDs are community service tasks such as cleaning and disinfection of public facilities, tree-planting, gardening, carpentry works, street sweeping, as well as clerical tasks like recording of attendance and assisting in-on-demand activities in LGU offices.

“We ensure that their disability is not a problem for the delivery of these community services, their mobility is favorable for them, and they can move around to perform the work assigned to them,” DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero said in a video message played during one of the payouts.

KALAHI-CIDSS as the implementing program of this initiative, conducted 11 scheduled payouts from December 3, 2022, to January 10, 2023, in different payout sites, including the national simultaneous payout that took place on December 3 in celebration of the international day of PWDs and the payout on December 22 with 10,856 PWD beneficiaries, the highest number of beneficiaries paid in a single day.

PWD beneficiaries during one of the community services in Daanbantayan, Cebu. Photo credits to Ian Noval.

The program was in collaboration with the local government units that engaged with the cash-for-work project of the KALAHI-CIDSS and by allocating community services that can be done by PWDs. “We thank the LGUs for their support by accepting the program, helping DSWD find those who are deserving of this assistance, and facilitating community services,” Lucero said.

Among the LGUs in Central Visayas with the highest number of PWD beneficiaries are cities like Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Bayawan City in Negros Oriental, as well as municipalities like Daanbantayan and Ayungon. Here is the breakdown of beneficiaries and the total amount of assistance released per province: Cebu: 16,143 (Php 68,335,890.00); Negros Oriental: 8,281 (Php 30,425,638.00); Bohol: 7,333 (27,509,400.00); Siquijor: 579 (Php 1,952,340.00).

Furthermore, as the lead agency in social protection, DSWD calls for families with PWD members to recognize the rights of PWDs in the community. “We encourage those with PWD children or members of their family to be mainstreamed in society. Allow them to go out, and give them the opportunity to join PWD groups or organizations. In this way, we are giving them the chance to better their lives,” said the director.

With cash-for-work, the DSWD not only provides assistance for PWD’s daily needs, but also provides them with the dignity to demonstrate their capacity as rightful members of society without judgment or discrimination.

Learn more about the cash-for-work program of DSWD for persons with disabilities here http://bit.ly/3DJJUEB. ###

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