Mission to the Republic of the Philippines
14 - 18 September 2004
From 14-18 September 2004, APCD sent a mission to Manila and Cebu. APCD identified the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the focal point organization with the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) as the direct connecting organization.
Department of Social Welfare and Development
In addition, the mission team visited the National Computer Center (NCC) and acknowledged that NCC is ready to promote information and communication technology for persons with disabilities in the Philippines.
The APCD mission team also visited several non-governmental organizations of/for persons with disabilities. The Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf Foundation (MCCID) offers a computer course for the hearing impaired aimed at assisting the hearing impaired in getting a better chance to compete for employment, education, and other opportunities.The Aphasia Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. is a non-profit organization that aims to provide assistance, information and support to people with aphasia, their families and caregivers. The NOVA Foundation for Differently Abled Persons, Inc. is a private organization promoting the full participation, total access, economic and social integration of persons with disabilities to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities by assisting them to identify and reach their career goals. Resources for the Blind provide various valuable programs for visually impaired persons with a focus on children with visual impairments. Handicap International - Philippines provides rehabilitation and inclusive activities for persons with disabilities and supports the "Hilwai", a boat set up to provide mobile rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities who have no access to rehabilitation services on the islands starting in the Visayan Region. The Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment for the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) provides computer training courses for visually impaired persons.
IL Members in Cebu
APCD visited the Kabalikat ng Malayang Philipino (KAMPI), which is the National Federation of Organizations of/ for Persons with Disabilities in the Philippines. Also, the APCD mission met with the Director-General Regional & Sustainable Development Department and representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to discuss collaboration on disability-related issues in the Asia-Pacific region especially on poverty alleviation and information exchange.
Interviews to follow-up and monitor former participants of APCD's training were also conducted by the APCD Human Resources Development (HRD) team. The HRD team also visited potential Independent Living (IL) Centers in Cebu.
