PCSO, Mt Province government give PWDs free devises

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The provincial government through the Provincial Persons with Disability Affair Office has partnered with the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office and MVRN Prosthesis Center in helping orthopedic persons with disabilities acquire assistive devices.

MVRN Prosthesis Center based in Pangasinan recently assessed 94 PWDs in the province in need of assistive devices.

Based on data of the PDAO, 50 of those assessed were in need of wheelchairs; 14 in need of prosthesis and crutches, four in need of quad cane, walker and body brace; three needs leg brace, while one needed ortho shoes. The total cost of these assistive devices is P805, 000.

The MVRN issued each of the assessed PWD a quotation stating the needed device and its specification and the price, and a Certification certifying that MVRN is willing to accept the Guarantee Letter issued by PCSO.

In support to PWDs, the provincial government has allotted the amount of P45, 000 under the PDAO funds which was used to procure two wheelchairs, 15 crutches, 7 canes and 4 walkers for 28 of the assessed PWDs.

PDAO-designate Maria Codeo informed that the PCSO which partnered with the MVRN shoulders the funding of the other assistive devices through the issuance of a Guarantee Letter after the PWDS have complied with the other requirements such as any valid ID, medical certificate and implant specification issued by the Municipal Health Officer based on the assessment of the needed assistive devices as specified by the MVRN.

Codeo said the Guarantee Letter is issued by Branch Head/Administrative Officer III Evilio Andy S. Timario of PCSO Bontoc Branch Office.

The PCSO has already released Guarantee Letters of 30 PWDs to PDAO which were  forwarded to MVRN. The assistive devices of these 30 PWDs are expected to be delivered on July 29, 2019. 

All the assistive devices are given free except for the prosthesis and wheelchairs wherein each of the beneficiaries of prosthesis which costs P30,000 and wheelchair costing P6,000 pay a counterpart of P5,000.00 and P1,000.00 respectively. Some of the prosthesis and wheelchair beneficiaries were able to request from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office a financial assistance to pay their counterpart, Codeo added.

She said there are still assessed PWDs who have not yet complied with the requirements like PWDs without valid IDs, difficulty in transporting PWDs for medical check-up for the issuance of a medical certificate.

In related development, the PDAO in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross-Mountain Province Chapter conducted fund raising activities such as the  Mt. Mogao Trail Run, Tickets-for-a-Cause during the Begnas di Bauko and the Lang-ay Festival. Net proceeds amounting to P111, 160 was divided equally among ten PWDs undergoing medication. (JDP/JBS-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)