RELIGIOUS GROUP DISTRIBUTES WHEELCHAIRS	September 19, 2008

“As if I were a prisoner in my own house ever since I gave birth to my disabled daughter 14 years ago. I was locked up carrying my hydrocephalic daughter for seven years which is the reason why I can’t find a good job. Though I would never want to think that it is a burden to take care of young child though it’s a little difficult, I can’t help but find it very hard to raise a sibling who for over 10 years has kept me focused on his disability and can not even give me a chance to earn enough to bring him to a doctor.” These were some of the sentiments of parents who brought their disabled children to the Provincial Social Welfare Office on August 20 as recipients to free wheelchair distribution. 

After receiving the wheelchairs, parents and guardians have at last found consolation that will lessen the difficulty that challenged them through the years.

Adventist Community Services (ACS), in partnership with Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma has recently distributed wheelchairs to 29 persons with disabilities (PWDs) of the province.

Pastor Benjamin Dotimas, Director of the 7th Day Adventist Church, has no words but admiration to the governor for always epitomizing generosity to her people.

Dotimas in his message said that the ACS screening committee has originally approved only nine wheelchairs for Nueva Vizcaya.  But when ACS screening committee was informed that Gov.  Cuaresma has been a recipient of Apolinario Magsaysay awards, they decided to give additional 20 more wheelchairs to identified PWDs, Dotimas said.

Your governor has shown support to all her constituents, choosing nobody in particular because she is like a mother who has shown love to all her children. And she has nothing in mind but to serve us all which certainly qualifies her of the award she much deserves.

Prior to the distribution, applicants were screened by the Municipal Social Workers for them to determine the most underprivileged PWD to be the priority beneficiary to the ACS project.

One of the recipients from Bagabag, who believed that for many years, she has been a prisoner in her own house because of the condition of her 14 year-old daughter   had gone home so overwhelmed as she expressed, “though I have not seen our Governor even once, I always believe in my heart that she is not just a mother but a good samaritan not just to the needy but to everyone.”#gpp (GO-PAIAD)