100 children with disabilities in Dinagat Islands benefit from DSWD-NCDA CAREvan
By Renelle L. Escuadro
SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands (PIA) — One hundred children with disabilities (CwDs) aged 0-5 in Dinagat Islands benefited from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Island Children’s Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment Caravan (CAREvan) on October 23 and 24 at the Provincial Guest Center in Barangay Cuarinta, here.
DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian attended the province’s program implementation to ensure children beneficiaries and their families take advantage of the developmental assessments, rehabilitation, and early intervention services – free of charge – by a team of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and physiotherapists to help these children reach their full potential and improve their quality of life.
“Pinapunta po tayo ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. dito sa Dinagat Islands at pati na rin sa mga island province na mahirap puntahan dahil gusto ng Pangulo na we bring the services of the national government closer to the people,” Sec. Gatchalian said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, and members of the integrated state media.
(President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. requested us to come to Dinagat Islands and to other logistically challenged island provinces because the President wants that we bring the services of the national government closer to the people.)
He added that development and assessment plans are very important to CwDs. However, the services are expensive, and medical experts in these fields are few. So, parents must sacrifice time and effort to support them. “With Island CAREvan, we pooled all resources to design a complete and comprehensive care plan for the CwDs, and we brought them here to Dinagat Islands.”
NCDA Executive Director Glenda D. Relova also shared the program’s milestones, in partnership with DSWD, local government units, and the multidisciplinary teams of allied medical professionals.
“This year, the program on Island CAREvan prioritizes the island, remote, underserved communities, helping ensure that geographical barriers do not hinder access to essential support and opportunities for every child to reach their full potential,” Dir. Relova said.
Cristine Joy Balanza, a resident of San Jose, thanked the government for bringing Island CAREvan to the province that diagnosed her five-year-old child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who is among the 100 CwD beneficiaries.
“Salamat sa gobyerno sa pagdala sa Island CAREvan sa probinsya sa Dinagat Islands. Dako kayo nga tabang sa akong pamilya nga napaduol ang mga kinahanglanon nga treatment sa akong anak, sama sa occupational and speech therapies ug libre pod kini,” Balanza said.
(Thank you to the government for bringing Island CAREvan to Dinagat Islands. This is a big help to my family because the much-needed treatment for my child, such as occupational and speech therapies, is accessible, free of charge.)
Meanwhile, NCDA committed to shouldering five months of therapy sessions for the children beneficiaries, while the provincial government of Dinagat Islands under the leadership of Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr., pledged to cover an additional six months. This commitment provides 11 months of therapy support in the province, expanding the opportunity for children to receive sustained interventions suited to their developmental needs.
Through the Island CAREvan, DSWD, NCDA, and the provincial government of Dinagat Islands are strengthening collaborative efforts to make developmental assessment, therapy, and family support more accessible to children who need them. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands, with a report from DSWD Caraga)
