BUTUAN CITY -Women with disability in Butuan City converge on March 26, 2012 to celebrate the Women with Disability Day.  This special day for women with disability is by virtue of Proclamation No. 744 declaring the last Monday of March as Women with Disability Day.

The theme for this celebration is “Participation of Women with Disability in Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Climate change Adaptation.”

In this celebration, the group held a mass at the Holy Redeemer Parish, a motorcade and opening program in the morning.  In the afternoon, a forum was held at SPED conference hall with Ms. Golda V. Pocon, SWO IV and DSWD GADCC Focal Person and Ms. Glorybeth Dano, RSW.  Mrs. Nerisa T. Murih, the chief of Technical assistance Division a message to the participants.

In her message, Mrs. Murih emphasized that even a person has disability; the person can still do something to contribute for development.

Ms. Glorybeth Dano, a registered social worker with total visual impairment inspired the participants through the sharing of her experiences and how she was able to survive amidst difficulties. She said “disability is not a hindrance to achieve your dreams.”  She challenged the participants that women with disability have big roles in decision making and planning.  She also encouraged them to participate in community activities especially in decision making.

Ms. Golda Pocon discussed about disaster risk profile, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction management.

A total of 80 participants composed of 40 women with disability headed by their president, Ms. Marietta S. Jandayan; 20 parents, and 30 other government agencies and local government units’ representatives joined the activity. ### (Social Marketing Unit)