CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Sept. 12 (PNA) — At least 30 families of persons with disabilities (PWDs) have received free housing units from a German organization, a ranking officer of the Nueva Ecija Association of Persons with Disabilities (NEAPWD) said on Saturday.
Rudy Mendoza, NEAPWD president, said their members received from the Germany-based Christopher B. Mission (CBM) a concrete house on an 80-square meter lot each in Barangay Bakod Bayan here.
But the recipients, being able to earn living from various government-inspired programs, will be paying the land at less than Php500 a month for 10 years, Mendoza said.
He explained that the CBM bought the land for Php1.35 million from its original owner.
Mendoza said the project started when a German visitor found NEAPWD’s production area in this city, devastated by typhoon Santi in 2013.
“The visitor offered help to purchase the land and give it to us in soft loan,” Mendoza said.
“They are the one who shoulder the expenses in the construction of the houses and other facilities,” he said.
Under the plan, he said, all the livelihood activities of their members, which included vermiculture or production of organic fertilizer, soap and dish washing liquid making, among other would be put up in the resettlement site.
“It has to be viable place to keep our members productive,” he said.
The NEAPWD is also involved in production of school desks which are being supplied to public schools in the province and adjoining provinces, under an agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd).
Mendoza said that several government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGUs) have been assisting them.
”Our members have the abilities and are diligent,” he said, saying the opportunity and confidence from the community are all they needed. (PNA)