‘Gapo PWD youth group in DOLE’s TULAY Program

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Olongapo City who benefitted from the livelihood assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are now running their own business and able to finance their own education.
Raman Cantiller, one of the 35 members of the Association of Differently Abled-Persons Zambales Inc (ADAPZI), said that before, it was difficult for him to find companies which hire PWDs.
“It is really hard and challenging for a PWD to land a job, especially if you are hearing-impaired like me. That is why I am so grateful to ADAPZI, especially to DOLE’s livelihood assistance, for coming up with this project, where PWDs are given the opportunity to have decent jobs. In fact, I am now the manager of the ADAPZI Laundry Shop,” Cantiller said.
Seeing this challenge, and wanting to prove that disability will never be a hindrance for PWDs to find success in any field they wish to pursue, Dr. Emiliana Sanchez organized the PWDs, most of them hearing-impaired youths, into an organization—the ADAPZI.
“Having founded ADAPZI, we embark on providing PWDs training and education on livelihood enterprise and make them self-sufficient through income augmentation, so they will be productive members of society,” Sanchez shared.
With the aim of empowering them, Sanchez helped craft a project proposal stating their intent to venture into a small business, which they submitted to DOLE, for possible funding and assistance.
DOLE Zambales Field Office head Reynante Lugtu expressed admiration to the group and deemed the proposal as fit for PWDs who wanted to venture into small business.
“Even with hearing impairment, we saw the enthusiasm of the group in their interest to venture into small business during our RMPG meeting. It is but fitting to give them the chance and opportunity to do so through our DOLE livelihood program,” Lugtu said.
Finally, in August 2014, DOLE granted the association P100,000 livelihood assistance which they used to purchase three industrial washing machines and laundry tools and materials to start their business.
The aid was sourced out from the agency’s Tulong Alalay sa mga Taong may Kapansanan (TULAY) Program which aims to assist persons with disability by mainstreaming them with society through training as well as livelihood and employment opportunities.
Cantiller recalled that the first few months of their operation was a struggle. But they were more challenged and determined to turn the business into a success through patience and hardwork.
Because of hardwork, success immediately came their way. From a meager daily income of P200-500, they are now earning P1,000 – 1,800 per day. This initial success led them to pursue more projects for its members and the rest of PWDs in the community.
More blessings come their way as the laundry shop provides gainful employment for the members. They are now receiving more allowances, which they can use for their education and basic school needs. ADAPZI-members are enrolled in the elementary, high school and college levels in Columban College through its segregation and mainstreaming programs.
Reaping the fruits of their labor, Sanchez, in behalf of the ADAPZI, thanked DOLE for this much needed assistance and vowed to continuously help more PWDs to uplift and improve their way of life.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the DOLE for giving us the opportunity to help our differently-abled members, by extending this livelihood assistance which truly helped us get started and eventually having a sustainable small business which we envision to grow in the years to come,” Sanchez said. (PIA 3)