Local government units (LGUs) in Antique are encouraged to adopt the Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) strategy on health for persons with disability (PWDs).

Randy Calseñas, the regional program coordinator of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), said on Friday there is a need for LGUs to adopt the strategy to provide access and reduce poverty among PWDs in their communities.

CBID is an inclusive development strategy for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction, and inclusion of people with disabilities in society.

“We encourage the other LGUs to have CBID practices at their level to make it accessible for PWDs,” he said in his message during the CBID planning workshop at the municipality of San Jose de Buenavista on Friday.

He said that LGUs in the province could take as models the centers of the provincial government and the municipalities of San Jose de Buenavista and Tobias Fornier.

“With the adoption of the CBID is (the inclusion of) the rehabilitation program for the PWDs,” Calseñas said.

He said the rehabilitation program aims to restore the health of PWDs to become active contributors to their communities.

There are around 17,000 PWDs in Antique most are victims of cerebral palsy and need physical rehabilitation.

On Thursday, the provincial government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) inaugurated its newly expanded CBID center in San Jose de Buenavista that offers physical rehabilitation program.

The center will cater to referrals from other LGUs that are yet to establish their facilities.

The rehabilitation program has two physical therapists; one is employed with the PSWDO with augmentation from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO). (PNA)