DARLITO Palermo wants to change the way you think about persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He repeats the very mantra that his fellows follow in their hearts: “We have more abilities than disabilities.”
This 40-year-old advocate from a humble community in Agdao envisions a barrier-free environment where PWDs are recognized for their contribution to development.
PRESIDENT Aquino recognized the potential of the PWD sector during the awards night, saying “Kahanga-hanga din ang ating kakapakinig lang na si Engineer Darlito Palermo, na di-alintana ang kondisyon upang maging ganap na inhinyero; siya po ay isa sa pinakaunang PWD youth leader sa Agdao, Davao City”
Palermo, who lost his ability to walk to polio when he was two years old is a recipient of this year’s Apolinario Mabini Presidential Award, a recognition of his support and help for the PWD sector. The Apolinario Mabini Awards is organized by the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled. Palermo was given the award last September 29 at Malacañang Palace by President Benigno Aquino III himself.
His vision of Davao as an inclusive community reflects his eloquence and confidence. Palermo said that at the moment, there is so much to be done bring together PWDs and recognize their potential contributions.
Rights
The community’s understanding of PWDs, he said, requires every person to acknowledge their rights—from basic human rights, access to education and health, justice and belongingness.
He said that they should not be pitied. Instead people should be proactive in creating an environment that is sensitive to their needs—like creating PWD-friendly architecture—as reflected by the country’s BP 344 or “an act to enhance the mobility of disabled persons by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishments, and public utilities to install facilities and other devices.”.
This can go a long way, he said, especially in education.
“Ninety percent of PWDs can’t go to school because of accessibility problems,” he said, describing that certain schools do not have environments suited for PWDs.
He said that when we talk about inclusion, there should be participation of PWDs—from deafs, blinds, and paralytics. “When establishments are not prepared for daily activities of people, including PWDs, it’s difficult for us to be integrated in the community,” he said.
Palermo, who is at the forefront of development, said that it is important for us to work together to help engage the government to work hard on programs suited for PWDs.
He also works as a freelance graphics artist and researcher on the side, thanks to online jobs.
Palermo works for the National Anti-Poverty Commission where he sits as a council member of the region’s PWD sector. His job? To ensure that poverty alleviation programs are implemented from the government to the grassroots level—especially for his sector.
By doing this, he said that he can ensure effective meaningful participation of PWDs in society.
He is also the chairman of the Association of Differently-Abled Persons, a cooperative of PWDs in the city.
Trailblazing livelihood
An electronics and communications engineer by profession, Palermo is now regularly traveling to Tagum to lead the PWD sector there in operating the Davao del Norte PWD association livelihood center.
This center, based in Purok Baluno, San Isidro, is a half-hectare hub that brings together training ground for PWDs.
Here, his fellow can learn about agri-business, online jobs, steel fabrication, and furniture making.
Convergent fundings from the government, NGOs and cooperatives facilitate the project, emphasizing bayanihan. “CENRO contributed logs for construction, TESDA committed to give trainings, and DOLE gave equipment,” he said. This center can accommodate 50-100 persons.
And beyond
He said that his passion to be an advocate started back when he was still a sophomore in high school. He was in a PWD training then by the Department of Social Welfare and Development where he now works as an officer who oversees poverty program implementations.
“We have rights in this country that we [and the rest of the public] need to know,” he said, adding that PWD sector won’t be as empowered if these rights are not invoked and acknowledged. “There are so many government programs for the PWDs—from scholarship to employment.”
Growing up, Palermo said that he never felt different from all his other “normal” peers.
In 2006, he was a paralympic athlete who excelled in table tennis.
“I never felt my disability. I was never isolated,” he said, expressing gratitude for this loving and understanding family. He said that his sense of belongingness in his family taught him to be independent and effective in doing house chores that everyone else would do.
No one in the family showed that he’s different. “I was even made to do laundry!” he said. During his grade school days, he became a scout leader—his leadership skills still show up to this day.