The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) — Bacolod-Negros Occidental Chapter provided food assistance to 100 persons with disabilities (PWDs) at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby on January 8.
The distribution of the food packs was part of a simultaneous nationwide program of the Red Cross, initiated by PRC chief executive officer and chairman Senator Richard Gordon, PRC secretary general Elizabeth Zavalla, chapter administrators, and department heads, a press release from the Bacolod Public Information Office said today, January 12.
In Bacolod, it was led by local chapter chairman Carlos Ganihong and their Board of Directors, which include City Administrator Em Ang, Joel Chua, Arthur Yap, and Chapter Administrator Rita Benita Mirasol.
The selected PWD beneficiaries were those who currently have no source of income.
Ang led the distribution of the Member Accidental Assistant Benefit (MAAB) IDs. MAAB is an insurance plan for accidental body injuries.
“The 100 PWD beneficiaries are those who were hit doubly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic due to movement restrictions and the resulting economic downturn,” Ang said.
Mirasol said the distribution was one way to lift the spirits of the PWDs.
“The Red Cross sees that one of the sectors most affected this COVID-19 pandemic are those persons with disabilities because they are the ones we consider the most vulnerable,” Mirasol said.
“Some of them can’t continue working; some are having difficulties looking for livelihood,“ she added.
The PWDs were also encouraged to secure their Red Cross membership to continually receive benefits from the PRC. Among these is a first-aid training.
“Their family members will also know how to use assistive devices like wheelchairs and crutches,” Mirasol said.
PWD Federation president Melvin Caspe thanked the Red Cross in behalf of his members and Department of Social Services Development.
This is the first food assistance program for PWDs initiated by the PRC, the press release said.*