“Bisan og PWD, duna gihapon mahimo para sa komunidad”

This has been Henry Aquitan’s mantra. He is a 47-year old person with disability (PWD) beneficiary of the Cash-for-Work program  from Lower Bala, Magsaysay in the province of Davao del Sur. Despite the challenges brought by his physical disability, he has never allowed it to define his worth — especially as a father of three and as the elected president of their local PWD association.

For years, he worked hard doing odd jobs to support his family, but with his limited mobility and scarce opportunities, it was always a struggle. Things became even more difficult when one of his children entered college. Expenses piled up, and their daily needs became harder to meet. He admitted that there were nights he would go to sleep worried, not knowing how he could provide for his children the next day.

Everything changed when he became a beneficiary of the Cash for Work program for PWDs under KALAHI-CIDSS of DSWD. Through the initiative, he was given the opportunity to participate in community-based projects such as clean-up drives specifically around their community’s child development center, basic repair work, and environmental conservation efforts — all adjusted to his capacity and skills.

The cash assistance he received from the program became a huge help in providing food on the table, paying school fees, and even helping one of his children finally graduate from college — the first in their family.

“Ang programa wala lang makahatag nako og income, nahatagan ko niini og dignidad kung asa wala lang ko nakatabang sa panginahanglan sa akong pamilya, apil na sad sa akong barangay (The program did not only give me income. It gave me dignity. I felt proud to be part of something that helped not only my family’s needs, but our barangay as well),” Henry shared with a smile.

Now, as a respected leader among PWDs in their community, Henry uses his voice to inspire others like him to never give up.

“Kung PWD ka, dili pasabot nga wala kay gamit. Tinuod naa tay mga limitasyon apan duna sab tay mga mabuhat. Kinahanglan lang nato og saktong suporta ug pagsalig gikan sa komunidad ug mga programa sama nalang sa KALAHI-CIDSS CFW (Being a PWD doesn’t mean you are useless. We may have limitations, but we also have strengths. We just need the right support and trust from the community — and programs like KALAHI-CIDSS are proof of that),”he proudly declared.

He continues to lead local efforts in mobilizing PWDs, advocating for inclusivity, and proving that no dream is too big for someone determined to rise above challenges.

The CFW Program for PWDs is a cash support in exchange for the agreed community works/services/tasks rendered for a minimum of six (6) days to a maximum of 10 days.  

It provides a short-term intervention through temporary employment or a targeted cash transfer intervention for no income or low income PWDs or households with at least one (1) member with disability, who are vulnerable, at risk or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters (natural or human-induced), as well as climate change.

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