By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino Persons with disabilities, partner agencies and community members attend the first Infanta Disability Expo 2...
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| Persons with disabilities, partner agencies and community members attend the first Infanta Disability Expo 2026 at the Northern Quezon Auditorium, where health, legal and social services are brought together under one roof. (Infanta LGU) |
INFANTA, Quezon - A wheelchair rolled across the auditorium floor beside children lining up for hearing tests, while others waited patiently for medical consultations that many could rarely access in their own communities. For two days, the Northern Quezon Auditorium in Infanta became more than an event venue—it became a place where accessibility took shape through services rather than promises.
Those moments inside the auditorium marked the opening of Infanta's first Disability Expo, held on July 15 and 16 under the theme "Promoting Inclusion, Accessibility, and Equal Opportunities for All." The Municipal Government of Infanta brought together government agencies, private organizations and volunteers to deliver free health services, distribute assistive devices and provide livelihood support for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The Municipal Health Office joined Jara Hearing Center, MediWalk Prosthetic and Orthotic Corporation and other partner organizations in conducting the medical mission. Health workers also distributed wheelchairs and other assistive devices while agencies offered consultation, referral services, rehabilitation support, livelihood information and assistive technology through service exhibits.
Beyond providing services, the expo also created opportunities for dialogue between government officials, partner organizations and the disability community, prompting Mayor Lord Arnel L. Ruanto to urge residents to recognize ability rather than limitation. He said inclusion begins by changing how society views disability and replacing outdated perceptions with a mindset that values what persons with disabilities can contribute to their communities.
"Actually nga, ako talaga ayaw ko tawagin siyang disability. Dahil pag sinabi mo sa definition ng disability, meron kang kawalan ng abilidad. Ang tawag ko po diyan ay differently able person. Ibig sabihin, kaya mo siyang gawin sa ibang pamamaraan."
The forum gathered representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, Public Attorney's Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Education and the Sangguniang Bayan Secretariat. Speakers explained the rights guaranteed under Republic Act No. 7277, or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, while answering participants' questions on government programs, legal protections and available assistance.
Ruanto also announced that the municipality would institutionalize the Disability Expo through annual funding while strengthening partnerships with public agencies and private organizations to broaden the program's reach in the coming years. The commitment would sustain the expo as an annual platform for delivering health, legal and social services while expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities.
"Ipai-institutionalize namin yearly ang Infanta Disability Expo. Taon-taon, lalagyan po natin ito ng budget, mas pagagandahin, mas palalakihin at mas aayusin pa po natin ang mga serbisyong puwede nating maibigay para sa inyo... Sa bayan ng Infanta, inklusibo po tayo. Sa bayan ng Infanta, bawal ang diskriminasyon. Sa bayan ng Infanta, kumakalinga tayong tunay."
The annual commitment positions the Disability Expo as a permanent part of the municipality's public service agenda rather than a one-time activity. It also reinforces Infanta's broader goal of building a more inclusive community where persons with disabilities receive equal access to government services and opportunities.
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