GENERAL SANTOS CITY—A corporate-backed foundation has linked up with a group of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in South Cotabato province for the expansion of its education and livelihood initiatives in the area.
Ryan Vidanes, assistant vice president of the RD Foundation Inc., said Wednesday they signed a memorandum of agreement with the PWD Federation and the municipal government of Polomolok for the implementation of its “Edukasyon Mo, Kabuhayan Ko” project.
He said the project mainly enables the PWD Federation to access an initial livelihood grant of P500,000.
The grant will serve as the group’s start-up capital for a partnership venture with the foundation on the production of tables and chairs that will later be distributed to local day care centers, he said.
“Edukasyon Mo, Kabuhayan Ko,” is a flagship project of RD Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the RD Group of Companies based in this city.
Under the agreement, some 25 selected PWDs would be contracted for the manufacture of “kiddie sets,” with each comprising a kiddie table and four chairs.
Jeanice Taganahan, president of the Polomolok PWD Federation, said the contract initially requires them to produce 250 “kiddie sets” worth P187,500.
Vidanes said the PWD beneficiaries were selected based on their commitment and skill in carpentry.
He said the municipal government of Polomolok will provide a sheltered workshop and bunk houses in Barangay Magsaysay for the beneficiaries.
The provincial government of South Cotabato will provide technical and financial assistance for the conduct of preparatory seminars and trainings for the beneficiaries as well as additional material assistance for the improvement of the sheltered workshop, he added. (FKA/PNA)
