GRATEFUL. A Baguio City resident helps her physically-challenged child use the new wheelchair donated by the Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Inc. in ceremonies in Baguio on Friday (June 15, 2018). The child was one of the 30 persons with disability, who were given free wheelchairs by the group that has been helping the Baguio City government through various programs. (Photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY -- The Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Inc. (FCACI) in Baguio City donated 30 brand new wheelchairs to persons with disability (PWDs) in the city in a ceremonial rite on Friday afternoon.
The 30 handicapped and differently-abled persons received their wheelchairs from FCACI President Tai Kuo and other chapter officers. They were assisted by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Councilor Arthur Allad-iw, who had facilitated the donation.
Allad-iw is, himself, a PWD.
FCACI helps the Filipino community through various projects. This is the second outreach activity conducted by the group in Baguio.
“Napakalaking tulong ang mga wheelchair na ito sa mga kapwa ko PWDs, dahil matagal nilang inantay na magkaroon ng sariling wheelchair, na ang iba ay luma at sira na ang ginagamit. Sana ay magpatuloy ang programa ng FCAC sa ating lungsod (This is a big help to my fellow PWDs. They have been waiting to have their own wheelchairs because some of them are using old and dilapidated ones. We hope the FCAC will continue aiding the city),” said Allad-iw, who is the head of Baguio City government's Committee on Employment, Livelihood, Cooperative, Handicapped, and Differently-Abled Persons.
A mother named Joan, whose child was one of the wheelchair recipients, expressed gratitude.
"Masayang masaya ang anak ko ngayon dahil may sarili na siyang wheelchair at hindi na ako mahihirapang kargahin siya tuwing ipapasyal ko siya (My child is so happy because he now has his own wheelchair and it won't be very hard for me to bring him around the city, especially to the park),” she said during the turnover rites.
Domogan also thanked the FCACI and other Filipino-Chinese organizations that continue to provide assistance to the city and other parts of the country.
Last week, the Chinese government also gifted the city a firetruck on the celebration of the Filipino-Chinese friendship day.
Chinese residents of Baguio also donated giant decorative zodiac figures as added tourist attraction in the park. (PNA)
