Northern Mindanao – The National Council for Disability Affairs in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development is presently conducting a Seminar on Community Organizing and Strengthening of Organizations of Persons With Disabilities.
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The three-day seminar is participated in by forty-five Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, and Guimbal, Iloilo.
The said forum was designed to promote the various Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) continuous capability building, empowerment and self-reliance towards building a non-handicapping environment for everyone.

After the said seminar, participants which include PWD leaders and their families are expected to be equipped with relevant knowledge, attitudes, and skills to strengthen their organizations.

Professor Angelito Manalili, one of the resource persons of the seminar stressed that “ In Community Organizing, it does not imply changing People’s participation per se, as it is in living and putting your shoes in the lives of the communities that you are able to discover the real picture and that, only through this, one is able to realize that there exists initiatives of the people done and what it only lacks is motivation and a deeper understanding of the silence of the poor”.

He further added that community development on one hand, involves building of self-reliant communities through helping them build and develop with what they have.

Written by Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD