Antique: Seventy-one persons with disabilities (PWD) have been identified as recipients of new artificial legs, marking this year's observance of the 48th National Disability Rights Week in the province. The prostheses will be distributed on Thursday, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office officer-in-charge Careen Panaguiton said in an interview on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the recipients, identified through their municipal social welfare and development officers, are mostly amputees on their lower extremities. The initiative is in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which will issue guarantee letters (GL) to the supplier, Instalimb Solutions Philippines Inc., for the payment of the assistive devices. The GL is chargeable to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program. 'Instalimb Solutions Philippines Inc. is doing the stump checking among PWD for the prostheses,' Panaguiton said.

The National Disability Rights Week, that runs from July 17 to 23, has the theme 'Rights First, Legislation Forward-Strategic Action for Equal Participation and Inclusive Development.' Meanwhile, Panaguiton mentioned that the Provincial Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) has ongoing free therapy sessions for 18 patients with cerebral palsy at its Community-Based Inclusive Development-Center for Health and Rehabilitation in this capital town. She also encouraged other local government units to appoint permanent PDAO officers so there is a focal person who will handle the concerns of PWD in their municipalities. Antique has 23,411 registered PWD.