Physical Therapist Angie Liza Vagilidad of the Antique Provincial Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) says a therapy center will be established for indigent children in Antique in 2019. Vagilidad represented PDAO during media forum in San Jose de Buenavista on Wednesday (December 12, 2018). (Photo by Annabel Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- A therapy center will be established under the Antique Provincial Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in 2019 for the indigent children with inborn physical disabilities and need early intervention.
Angie Liza Vagilidad, a physical therapist and employee of the PDAO, said during a media forum Wednesday that since August this year they had been profiling children zero to 18 years old who have inborn physical disabilities, so they could be given assistance.
She said the therapy center at the PDAO in San Jose de Buenavista will be a pilot center.
“Next year around the first quarter facilities such as electrical stimulator, therapeutic balls, and toys for the therapy of upper extremities will be purchased,” she said.
She said an initial of PHP350,000 has been included in the Annual Investment Plan budget for 2019 for the facilities to be purchased.
The municipality of Bugasong is also planning to establish its own center considering their number of children needing early intervention.
“In Bugasong where we have already done our profiling there are already 25 children who had been identified with cerebral palsy and other developmental delays,” she said.
Vagilidad said Bugasong is now looking for a site where to establish its therapy center. The Bugasong Therapy Center will be funded by the local government unit.
Meanwhile, Vagilidad said profiling is still ongoing in other towns.
Parents of children needing intervention are also advised to coordinate with the PDAO and have their children undergo a medical checkup in their respective Municipal Health Officers as a requirement for their therapy.
The media forum was initiated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) where PDAO is affiliated. (PNA)
