The Humanity and Inclusion (HI) Philippines, an international non-governmental organization that works to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, paid a courtesy visit with Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado on September 20, 2023, at the New Capitol Building.
The HI delegation was headed by Vladan Nicolic, their US Program Support Officer, who discussed with Aumentado the possibility of creating programs and projects that cater to the needs of Boholanos with disabilities.
According to Nicolic, HI aims to promote the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all aspects of society, especially in the areas of health, education, livelihood, and humanitarian response.
Aumentado welcomed the initiative of HI and expressed his support for their advocacy.
He said that inclusivity is one of the platforms that the Provincial Government of Bohol champions under the Strategic Change Agenda, which is a comprehensive development plan that covers various sectors and stakeholders in the province.
He also shared some of the initiatives that the provincial government has implemented to address the needs and concerns of PWDs, such as providing assistive devices, scholarships, trainings, and livelihood opportunities.
He added that the provincial government is also working on improving the accessibility and safety of public facilities and infrastructure for PWDs.
Nicolic commended Aumentado for his efforts and said that HI is looking forward to collaborating with him and his team in implementing disability-inclusive programs and projects in Bohol.
He also invited Aumentado to visit one of their ongoing projects in LGU Talibon called the Local Empowerment and Advocacy Disability Inclusive Climate Actions led by Persons with Disabilities (LEAD).
The LEAD project is a 36-month-long program that empowers PWDs to participate in disability-inclusive climate actions (DICA) and become proponents of change in the fight against the climate crisis.
The project, which runs from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2025, currently has 100 beneficiaries who are trained and supported to engage in DICA activities such as disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, and sustainable agriculture.
Aumentado thanked Nicolic for the invitation and said that he is interested to learn more about the LEAD project and how it can be replicated or scaled up in other areas of Bohol.
He also expressed his appreciation for the group’s work and said that he hopes to strengthen their partnership in advancing the welfare and empowerment of PWDs in Bohol.