Umwad Panay

Panay CBR Projects Newsletter Issue 1, April 2010

HI develops CBR/LID Project with Partners

Participants of the project development workshop were all smiles at the conclusion of the 3-day activity In its quest to develop a project in a participative manner, the Handicap International (HI) Panay project team worked with partners of the 5 target local government units (LGU) in Panay Island during the Project Development Workshop held at Eon Centennial Hotel in Iloilo City from Feb. 10-12, 2010. The workshop aimed to define the project work plan for 2010 in a consultative manner as well as to provide capacity building to Disabled Peoples Organization (DPO) and Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) focal persons of the LGUs of Batad, San Dionisio, & Concepcion in Iloilo province, and Barbaza & Laua-an in Antique province on how to develop a project using the logical framework approach. Originally, the plan was to develop a project following the local inclusive development (LID) approach and focusing on the three main actors of LGU, service providers, and DPO. However, due to the upcoming May 2010 elections and expected changes in LGU leaderships, it was decided that for this year, the focus will be on developing the capacity of DPO to become integral actors in the implementation of their municipal CBR action plans. Thus for the 3 days, the participants worked hard to develop a logical framework that centers on improving DPO skills particularly in fund raising, advocacy, event organizing, and effective communication. UMWAD PANAY is born! Umwad, which means progress in Ilonggo, exemplifies HIs commitment to support the development of Disabled Peoples Organization (DPO) in the island of Panay so they can contribute towards the progress of their respective municipalities. Umwad Panay brings quarterly updates on the Panay CBR Projects quest to meet the above challenge.

New staff on board

Raphy Imperial, a registered social worker out of Central Philippines University in Iloilo was hired as community organizer of the project on January 11. Prior to HI, he worked for several years with MSF on street children issues. Rosie Pernia of San Jose, Antique was hired as office keeper on January 18. Sheila Arroyo, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Central Philippine University, was hired as field admin assistant on February 10. She worked 8 years as accounting staff in Manila before returning home to Iloilo this year. Lyndon Fontiveros of Santa Barbara, Iloilo was hired as driver on March 1. Cindy Blasurca, a BS PsychologyCommunity Development graduate of University of the Philippines (Miag-ao) was hired as community organizer on March 22. She worked with community-based organizations in Antique & Iloilo supported by World Vision before she joined HI.

Activities in brief
Person with Disability Day in Barbaza

Mayor Faith Francisco speaks in front of her PWD constituents

In connection with their annual Batabat Festival, HI joined the municipality of Barbaza in holding their own Person with Disability Day on March 16, 2010. The highlight of the event was the distribution of PWD IDs and purchase booklets signed by the mayor to an estimated 700 PWDs of Barbaza. These IDs and booklets will be used by PWDs to avail of the 20% discount as embodied in Republic Act 9442. RA 9442 is the 2007 amendment to RA 7277the 1992 Magna Carta for PWDs, which stipulates that Persons with Disabilities are entitled to 20% discounts to provision of services in hotels, theaters & places of recreation, purchase of medicines & medical services, transportation, etc. At the end of the day, 168 PWDs who came from far-flung barangays were provided with IDs and purchase booklets. Distribution will then continue through the members of the CBR team and the social welfare office. The challenge now is to make sure that these IDs and purchase booklets are honored in various establishments in the municipality so that PWDs can enjoy their rights as stipulated in the law. REPUBLIC ACT 9442 AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED PERSONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" "SEC. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to the following: (a) At least twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments relative to the utilization of all services in hotels; restaurants and recreation centers for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability; (c) At least twenty percent (20%) discount for the purchase of medicines in all drugstores for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability; Full text at: http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/ra_no9442.htm 2

From L-R: Lyndon Fontiveros, Cindy Blasurca, Rosie Pernia, Sheila Arroyo, Raphy Imperial

Panay CBR Project

General Objective: DPOs in Panay Island are autonomous and are an integral actor in local development. Specific Objective: DPOs in 5 LGUs increase their capacity to co-implement their municipal CBR action plan. Expected Results: 1) At the end of 2010, each DPO develop the capacity to write project proposals / action plans. 2) Each DPO organize 2 stakeholders forum on disability. 3) Each DPO organize 2 advocacy events. 4) Each DPO develop effective communication skills. Upcoming activities (2nd Qtr): April 21-23Advocacy workshop in Laua-an (Antique DPOs) April 28-30Advocacy workshop in Batad (Iloilo DPOs) May 25-28Project proposal & budget development training in San Dionisio (Iloilo DPOs) June 1-4Project proposal and budget development training in Barbaza (Antique DPOs) June 17-18Event organizing workshop in Concepcion (Iloilo DPOs) June 24-25Event organizing workshop in San Jose (Antique DPOs)

Project Orientations & Planning

Iloilo Province

Participants from Batad, San Dionisio, & Concepcion To start the implementation of the 2010 work plan based on the output of the project development workshop, a project orientation and planning was held on March 25, 2010 at Sealips Restaurant in San Dionisio. DPO leaders and CBR focal persons from Batad, San Dionisio, & Concepcion came to discuss the objectives, expected results, and activities of the project for 2010. The participants reached a consensus that the trainings for project proposal writing, advocacy, and event organizing will be done on site and set the schedules accordingly. Antique Province

CBR focal persons and DPO leaders from Barbaza & Laua-an

Panay CBR Project Staff 2010

Jasper Rom Project Manager Edward Ello Social Mobilization Officer Sheila Arroyo Field Administrative Assistant Raphy Imperial Community Organizer Cindy Blasurca Community Organizer Saori Sato PNVSCA-JICA Occupational Therapist Volunteer Lyndon Fontiveros Driver Rosie Pernia Office keeper

On the Antique side, the project orientation and planning was held on March 30 at the municipal council session hall of Laua-an. DPO leaders and CBR focal persons from Barbaza & Laua-an also came to discuss the updated logframe and workplan for 2010. Like in Iloilo, the two municipalities decided to hold the trainings on site and scheduled them based on their availability. They also agreed to alternate the venues for the training between them and take charge of the preparations especially on logistical aspects. With the schedules set for trainings, capacity building activities, and field coordination visits, the Panay CBR team will have busy days ahead. It is hoped that with the full cooperation and support of the LGUs, CBR focal persons, other organization and the DPOs themselves, the expected results for 2010 will be achieved with flying colors. CBR Orientation in Iloilo City

In its continuing thrust to promote CBR in the city of Iloilo, the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs (OPDA) in coordination with HI conducted another CBR orientation on March 26-27 at Arevalo District. It was participated in by Barangay officials, day care workers, barangay health workers, PWDs and their families, and other stakeholders who are expected to take an important role during the implementation of CBR. This is a follow-up to the CBR orientation conducted to stakeholders in Molo District at the beginning of the year. Subsequent orientations on CBR are set to follow with one in Jaro District scheduled on April 12. OPDA under the leadership of Dolores Laudenorio has pushed for the adoption of CBR in the city and has so far been ably supported by the city mayor.

Field team (R-L) of Edward, Saori, Cindy & Raphy

STAFF TRAININGS
Admin Training Manila based admin staffs Michelle de Claro and Ana Fe Somobay came to Iloilo on February 23-24 to train newly hired admin Sheila Arroyo. At the end of the 2-day training, Sheila was able to understand the administrative & financial processes better as well as the logistical requirements of her position.

From L-R: Rosie, Michelle, Raphy, Ana, Sheila Technical Writing Training Social Mobilization Officer Edward Ello, participated during the Seminar Workshop on Press Release and Technical Writing organized by the Development Center for Asia and the Pacific in Quezon City from February 2526. The training allowed Edward to improve his writing skills and would be very useful as he writes reports and articles on his field activities.

PANAY CBR PROJECT TEAM 2010

Handicap International 42 Ponce St., San Lorenzo Village Makati City, Philippines Tel. (+63 2) 812-6990 mla-ofc@handicapinternational.ph www.handicapinternational.ph Panay Project Office 56 Quezon St., Arevalo Iloilo City 5000 Philippines Tel. (+63 33) 501-9690 From L-R: Raphy Imperial, Cindy Blasurca, Saori Sato, Edward Ello, Rosie Pernia, Sheila Arroyo, Lyndon Fontiveros, Jasper Rom 5