80 iKalinga PWDs get free wheelchairs Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, Inc.

Tabuk City, Kalinga - A total of eighty individuals in Kalinga who have mobility impairments were provided free wheelchairs on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, aiding them to have some level of freedom to move with less hassle.

The distribution of free wheelchairs to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in said province was made possible through the partnership of the Kalinga PLGU, headed by Governor James Edduba, and the Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, Incorporated (OBP). 

OBP is a non-government organization in the Philippines whose mission is to provide support to the ‘most neglected and disadvantaged’ people in the country. It is the humanitarian arm of CBN Asia, the producer of “The 700 Club Asia”. 

As reported by the Kalinga Information Office on January 29, the distribution of said assistive device was done to improve mobility and enhance the quality of life of the PWDs in the province.

Held at the Kalinga Sports Center on said date, the event was led by the Office of the Provincial Governor, the OBP, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), and volunteers.

Governor James Edduba, represented by Dr. Rey Aranca, conveyed his gratitude to the OBP during the event, emphasizing that the wheelchairs represent not just a physical aid but also ‘a symbol of dignity, inclusion, and opportunity for PWDs to actively participate in their society’.

The PDAO, headed by Almarie Babag, meantime, expressed hope that the collaboration of the Kalinga PLGU and OBP will continue and that more assistance will be given to the beneficiaries.

Before the distribution of the wheelchairs, the recipients and their families underwent training to ensure that they would properly use the wheelchairs. Additionally, the recipients’ progress will also be monitored by the OBP through follow-up calls and visits. 

Kalinga PLGU recognized said invaluable support of the OBP to the Kalinga PWD community and gave a Certificate of Appreciation, expressing the local government’s gratefulness for the benevolence of the foundation.