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In the recent visit of the Rotary Club of Cebu West and Rotary International members to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) -7’s Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) II, the organization has committed to continue pouring resources and actively engage in activities that would further uplift the welfare of the persons with disability in the Center.

Photo opportunity with the Rotary International Manager Mr. Bruce Allen (9th from left), Rotary Club of Cebu West officers and members headed by the incoming Rotary Club Governor Mr. Philip N. Tan (4th from left), DSWD FO 7 OIC-Regional Director Rebecca P. Geamala (6th from left) and OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Adminstration Grace Q. Subong (sixth from right), AVRC II staff and the licensed Massage Therapists during their recent visit in the Center.

In a Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2003, the Rotary Club of Cebu West has adopted AVRC II as its centennial project and provided livelihood opportunities to the center’s graduates. Among these are the opening of a massage clinic at the Mactan Cebu International Airport wherein the Rotary Club provided furniture and fixtures that helped DSWD meet the standards of a clinic in an international airport; tie-up project with Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation with the AVRC II PWD clients performing songs for the waiting passengers at the port terminal whose uniforms and musical instruments are sponsored by the Club; assistance in the negotiation with Casino-Filipino Cebu in Waterfront Hotel to deploy PWDs in the Hotel; and facilitated the Center’s participation in various Rotary Bazaars which provided immediate income to clients and customers for home services.

The Rotary Club of Cebu has started its engagement with the DSWD – 7 AVRC II in 1992 with the social responsibility commitment to assist the Department in uplifting the welfare of the vulnerable sectors of the society which includes the PWDs. For over a decade the Club has contributed about P2.4 million to the AVRC and continuously brought their international counterparts to the center, like the Rotary Club of Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Australia which also provided support to the AVRC.

During the Rotarians’ visit, Rotary International Manager Bruce Allen was impressed at how the Rotary Club of Cebu west have made a significant impact and change on the lives of the PWD in the Department’s center. The Rotary Club officers have committed to discuss proposals with AVRC II and do more in improving the lives of PWDs through resource augmentation. ###

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