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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Bicol joins observance of White Cane Safety Day on Aug. 1

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 3 (PIA) -- Advocates and stakeholders in the Bicol region joined the entire nation in observance of the White Cane Safety Day on Monday, August 1, pursuing the protection of the physical, moral and social well-being of the blind people in the the country.

Bicol regional director Arnel Garcia of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said there is still the need to instill awareness among the general public about the White Cane Act provided under Republic Act No. 6759 series of 1989 declaring August 1 of every year as White Cane Safety Day.

Garcia explained that it is the policy of the state to promote and protect the physical, moral and social well- being of all handicapped persons, such as the blind and to undertake studies on specific causes of high percentage of blind people in the Philippines.

"August 1 of each year is declared as White Cane Safety Day for the purpose of instilling public awareness on the plight of the blind, promoting recognition and acceptance of the “white cane” as a symbol of the need of the blind for specific assistance and as a reminder of the individual’s duty to care and accord due respects to his unfortunate brethren," he said..

The latest household assessment of the Listahanan revealed that there are 8,194 poor individuals in Bicol with disability and functional disabilities on seeing. This is where the importance of the White Cane advocacy will come in.

The cane is an important assistive device, thus proper use of the cane must be taught to them and even to the sighted guide.

The observance of the white cane day aims to instill public awareness of the plight of blind people; promote recognition and acceptance of the white cane as symbol of inability of blind person; serve as a reminder of the duty of the public to accord due respect to the blind; and, promote and protect the physical, moral and social well-being of blind persons.

“The White Cane is an international symbol for the blind," Garcia noted. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)  

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3211470204273/bicol-joins-observance-of-white-cane-safety-day-on-aug-1#sthash.P4EmAzmW.dpuf

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