Around 20 groups and organizations of persons with disability (PWDs) joined the weekly flag ceremony on Monday to mark the start of the 47th National Disability Rights (NDR) Week.
Davao City Social Welfare Development Office Head Julie P. Dayaday read Davao City’s Proclamation No.1, which declared July 17-23, 2025 the 47th National Disability Rights (NDR) week.
Signed by Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, the proclamation states that the City Government of Davao recognizes the efforts of the national government in promoting the welfare of PWDs.
“With the theme ‘Innovation for Inclusion: Building Inclusive Communities Together’, NDR Week 2025 recognizes the importance of innovation in breaking barriers and providing PWDs more access to opportunities as we now move towards a more inclusive future where we may all continue to become partners in nation building,” the proclamation reads.
The proclamation also declared that City Government committed to supporting PWDs and taking the lead in implementing programs, projects, and services for their welfare.
Dayaday, in an interview, said that this year’s observance of the National Disability Rights (NDR) Week is bigger compared to the previous year.
“Karon medyo daghan ta’g activities nga gipahigayon para ma involve og ma aware ang mga tao unsa ka importante gyud ang paghatag nato’g importansya sa atong PWD because dili man gud ta exclusive, inclusivity mao man gyud na atong panawagan. This time naa naman ta’y PDAO Officer IV, [ang PDAO], isa ka division under CSWDO led by Atty. Redendo Martinez, since naa’y nakatutok naka focus mao na’ng daghan kaayo ta’g activities this year. (We are holding many activities to involve the people and to help in the awareness campaign on the value of giving importance to our PWDs, because our call is not to be exclusive, but inclusive. This time we also have a PDAO Office IV, and the PDAO is already a division under the CSWDO and is being led by Atty. Redendo Martinez),” Dayaday said.
She said that Atty. Martinez also spearheads the proposal for the annual financial subsidy for PWDs.
The proposal has already been forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod after it was reviewed by the City Legal Office (CLO).
Dayaday said they were hopeful that the ordinance will be approved this year as the financial assistance could help children with special needs who needed therapy.
As of July 14, the city has more than 20,000 PWDs, young and old.
Among the incoming activities for the celebration are the paragames (July 19), and the product display to be held at NCC Victoria Plaza from July 21-23, 2025. CIO
