City gov't gives livelihood, educational assistance to PWDs

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A total of 41 persons with disabilities (PWDs) received livelihood and educational assistance from the city government recently.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog personally handed out the cash grants ranging from P2,000 to P5,000 for 27 livelihood beneficiaries.

The educational assistance amounted to P5,000 each for the 14 beneficiaries. “This is the city government’s way of helping the PWDs, for them to lead normal lives and include them in mainstream society,” Mayor Jed said.

The PWD beneficiaries are under the Persons with Disability Affairs Office and the Breaking Barriers for Young Adults, both managed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Aside from the PWDs, city government also conducts training for 75 freelance sex workers through the Jewel in Entrepreneurship for Development (JED) program.

The five-day training starting August 13 involves freelancers plying Arroyo, Ledesma and Mabini Streets in City Proper. They will be trained in soap-making, household or personal products, meat and food processing, and fish products.

“This is an opportunity for them to enhance their living not just for the present but also to prepare them for future challenges in life," Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said.

He even set himself as example. “Even I don’t stop studying and learning because I believe one must be armed with appropriate knowledge, skills and training to be successful," he said.

TFMVF chairperson Jorge Duron said beneficiaries can make use of their training later on if they decide to leave their present job and start a small business.

The JED program is an initiative for moral recovery as part of the city government’s roadmap towards transformation of freelance sex workers, he added.

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