As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take toll on workers and business establishments in the city, persons with disabilities (PWDs) are not spared and are even suffering the most being one of the highly vulnerable sectors in the community.
PWDs are reeling from the pandemic as restrictions forced them to stay at home with limited access to their health needs and necessities.
Deborah Panela, a member of Federation of PWD Association in Iloilo City shared in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo on Sunday that many of their member-PWDs are having a hard time accessing their health needs due to the pandemic.
“Nabudlayan sila mag-access sang ila health needs, indi sila kagwa sa ila balay,” she shared.
Panela is also a PWD, having been diagnosed with lupus when she was 12 years old.
Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs (mayoclinic.org).
While other PWDs received support from their respective community and barangays, Panela said many Ilonggo PWDs are not as lucky.
“Good thing sa iban, may community and barangay nga gahelp but ang iban mabudlay gid kay wala masugo, kag kon may masugo, indi man always available. Mabudlay gid subong kay iban nadulaan gid obra,” she lamented.
From May 24 to July 15, 2021, Iloilo City was placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). It was elevated to ECQ on July 16 and will continue up to July 31, 2021.
Following the elevation of the quarantine status, Mayor Jerry Treñas through Executive Order (EO) No. 61 restricted the movement of vulnerable sectors including PWDs, persons with comorbidities, senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons below 18 years old.
Under the EO, vulnerable sectors are required to stay at home at all times except during highly indispensable circumstance or for obtaining essential goods and medicines or seeking medical care.
During these tough times, Panela appealed to the community to help the PWD sector as she highlighted the important role of barangay officials in supporting them.
“I hope the community helps and gina-encourage ko gid ang mga barangay officials, neighbors, or friends sang PWD nga mabulig sa ila. Treating a PWD with kindness maybe a small thing for you but it can change their life. For every person nga maka-extend sang ila generosity and love, passion subong nga pandemic, dako nga bagay gid sa ila,” shared Panela.
She also called for the support of local government units (LGUs) especially to PWDs who are undergoing quarantine and isolation.
“Most of the facilities here are not accessible to our PWD sectors so I hope the local government and those who are willing to support can help us ensure that buildings and areas in the metro are accessible to PWDs,” she added.
Panela said they have almost 100 PWD members in their association.
Despite this, she said that Iloilo City and Region 6 have been much more inclusive to the PWD sector compared to other regions in the country.
“Actually, we are inclusive here in Iloilo City compared sa other regions. We are trying our best to improve our PWD groups and we have PWDs working at gasoline stations and at malls while others work in finance,” Panela said.
Unfortunately, the pandemic also affected PWD workers as some of them lost their jobs amid closures and restrictions.
From July 17-July 23, 2021, the country will observe the 43rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week.
With the theme “Kalusugan at Kaunlaran ng Pilipinong May Kapansanan, Isulong sa Gitna ng Pandemya’’, the celebration will focus on the health and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities during this time of Covid-19 pandemic.
In line with the NDPR week, Panela said they will hold engagement and discussion activities virtually on July 29, 2021.
The group will also hold orientations to the different barangays on the metro to inform them of their rights to organize PWDs.
For those interested to support the group, you can visit the office of Federation of PWD Association in Iloilo City at the City Hall.
Meanwhile, Panela urged her fellow PWDs to never give up and don’t be afraid to seek help from the community amid the pandemic.
“For PWDs, indi madulaan sang paglaom, let us keep on trusting God and trusting people. Don’t be afraid to seek help kay kis a gabulig man ina for the community nga mangin considerate sa aton. Lastly, if you have a dream, go for it, disability is not a hindrance, keep on fighting for it,” she noted. (ERS)
