“Ang person with disability ay meron pa namang magagawa sa lipunan, sa community, at sa lahat ng gugustuhin niyang bagay na magawa, yung magagawa niya.”
(A person with a disability has the capacity to contribute to society, the community, and anything they wish to accomplish, within their capabilities.)
These are the words of Gregorio M. Balahibo, a 68-year-old person with a disability from Naga City, Camarines Sur.
Despite being born with a physical impairment, Gregorio refuses to let his condition limit his potential. He currently serves as the president of Naga City Little People, an organization comprising 25 members from various parts of the city.
His journey took a significant turn when he became a beneficiary of the Cash-for-Work (CFW) program under the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) modality of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).
The KKB-CFW program offers temporary employment to persons with disabilities, as well as low-income or no-income households with members who have disabilities. Beneficiaries were identified based on the results of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (LISTAHANAN). Local government units validated the data and created a list of eligible beneficiaries, which was endorsed to the DSWD regional office. Once identified, participants worked for ten days, earning wages based on the regional daily rate.
“Para sa akin, I am very glad to have this opportunity na bigyan kami ng cash-for-work. Although sabi nga nila, ang person with disability, karamihan sa tingin ng tao ay walang kakayahan, hanggang doon ka na lang—pero mali sila,” Gregorio shared.
(For me, I am very glad to have this opportunity to be part of the cash-for-work program. Although many people think that persons with disabilities have no abilities and are limited in what they can achieve, they are wrong.)
Gregorio, along with 1,946 other beneficiaries of KKB-CFW, received PHP 3,950.00 in financial assistance for their ten-day community work, which included cleaning various streets in the city.
“…Yung makita ka ng community, komunidad na tumutulong ka rin naman pala kahit ikaw ay isang person with disability—that you can do something to clean up the community. Kaya ito ay magandang programa na ibinigay ng DSWD na cash-for-work, nakakatulong din pala kami kahit papaano,” he explained.
(…when the community sees that you are also contributing, even as a person with a disability, and that you can do something to help clean up the community—it shows this is a great program by the DSWD. It proves that we can help, even in our own small way.)
The financial assistance Gregorio received will help him rebuild his sari-sari store, which was destroyed during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine.
“Malaking tulong yung pera na maibibigay ng cash-for-work kasi kagaya ko na meron akong livelihood na sari-sari store. This is an additional capital to my sari-sari store and mas malaki ang maitutulong niya sa paglago ng sari-sari store,” he shared.
(The money provided through the cash-for-work program is a big help because, like me, I have a livelihood—a sari-sari store. This serves as additional capital and will significantly help its growth.)
Looking forward, Gregorio aspires for more inclusive opportunities for persons with disabilities not only in his community but throughout the country. He hopes his story serves as proof that no obstacle is insurmountable.
“Kaya itong masasabi ko na ang ganda po ng inyong programa, DSWD, sa cash-for-work kasi nagkakaroon ng development ang bawat person with disability sa ganitong proyekto. Nakikita nila sa sarili nila na kaya pa rin naman nila,” he said with pride.
(This is why I can say that the DSWD’s cash-for-work program is excellent, because it brings development to every person with a disability through projects like this. It helps them realize they are still capable.)