Bacolod SP calls for full support of disability rights week

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has passed a resolution urging all barangays, schools and government agencies to actively participate in the National Disability Rights Week celebration from July 17 to 23, 2025.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito, chair of the Committee on PWD Affairs, supports Proclamation No. 597, s. 2024, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which institutionalizes the annual observance and affirms the state’s commitment to the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

“This is not just symbolic,” Distrito said Thursday.

“We are calling on every barangay, every school and every office to take real, inclusive action — because PWDs are not just beneficiaries of development; they are partners in building it,” he added.

This year’s theme, “Innovation for Inclusion: Building Inclusive Communities Together,” emphasizes the need for collaboration and accessibility in technology, infrastructure, education and policy.

Planned citywide activities include:

• PWD help desks in barangays and city offices
• Inclusive sports, exhibits and livelihood showcases
• Medical, dental, legal and mental health services
• Public forums, seminars and information campaigns
• Disability mapping and inclusion planning at the barangay level

The resolution underscores that inclusion is a shared responsibility.

“Though our families may have stood on opposite sides of politics in the past,” Distrito said, “we must stand united now in upholding the rights of every Bacolodnon — especially those who need our support most.”