THE party-list group FPJ Panday Bayanihan is pushing for the creation of an awareness campaign through parenting workshops and educational seminars on cerebral palsy within and outside the cerebral palsy community.
Brian Poe, the group’s first nominee in next year’s elections, said during the recent celebration of World Cerebral Palsy Day that there is a need to invest in a comprehensive disability registration and detection system, which he said is critical for PWDs to enjoy the benefits provided for them, including health insurance.
The event was an initiative of the Cerebral Palsy Epilepsy Family Awareness Support Group PH (CEFASGPH), a social service and support community founded by Marvin and Jessa Marmol, parents of Theo, an 8-year-old who’s been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Poe said parents who are raising children with cerebral palsy or epilepsy are already dealing with various challenges in their day-to-day life, thus financial support through a disability allowance could address the current unequal support.
“I am with you in pushing for improvements to the policy of the government. We will do our best to craft relevant legislation na tugma sa pangangailangan ng ating mga mamamayan, lalung-lalo na ang mga batang may disabilidad (that will ensure the provision of the necessary services needed by children with disabilities).
Together let us build a more inclusive and more progressive Philippines,” he said.
Poe also said educational policies must be made more inclusive, noting that stigma and attitudinal barriers remain within schools against children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
He added that advocacy and information campaigns on available interventions, including an increase of guidance counselors and special education teaching assistants, must be intensified.
Poe likewise said packages offered by PhilHealth should ensure that there is a system in place to maintain and update assistive devices for cerebral palsy and epilepsy patients. CEFASGPH founder Jess Marmol, during the event, acknowledged FPJ Panday Bayanihan’s support for bringing attention to the concerns of cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and for mobilizing additional resources, including possible legislation dedicated to the cause.
