LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The provincial government will award cash incentives to different-abled Pangasinenses, who won the championship during the National Paralympic Games held in Marikina City last May 11-19.
“The provincial government will give PHP8,000 for each gold medalist; PHP6,000 for each silver medalist; and PHP4,000 for each bronze medalist, while the other participants will receive PHP2, 000 each,” said Emilio Samson Jr., chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
He noted that the Pangasinan delegation won 15 gold, 16 silver and five bronze medals in the said national competition.
The Pangasinan delegation competed in athletics events, table tennis, power lifting, swimming, and chess of two categories – Hearing Impaired (HI), and Ortho, Samson said.
“They were recognized by Governor Amado Espino III during his 2nd State of the Province Address,” he said.
Samson disclosed that the awarding will be on July 23, in line with the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week observance.
The Pangasinan PSWDO will also recognize in the same event the winner for the Most Empowered PWDs (persons with disabilities) Municipal or City Organization, according to him.
“Magkakaroon ng screening at validation, iikot ang aking mga staff, ivavalidate nila ang iba’t ibang PWD organization sa probinsya (There will be screening and validation, our teams will validate the different PWD organizations in the province),” Samson said.
Currently, there are more than 30 PWD organizations in the entire province, he noted.
A two-day culminating activity, which will be attended by 300 to 350 PWDs from all over the province, will also be held on July 23 to 24 at the President’s Hotel here.
“We will provide free accommodation for them. The forum will be with the Department of Health, but we are still finalizing everything including the venue and the date,” Samson said.
The official further said that the activity “is an opportunity for them (PWDs) and for the province to know their needs through the forum.” (Hilda Austria/PNA)
