Through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Shared Service Facility program, livelihood facilities amounting to 335,000 pesos were provided to Persons with Disabilities who are members of DSWD’s Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop Association.

DTI represented by Zamboanga City Office Head Rolando Acuña together with DSWD IX Asst. Regional Director for Administration Riduan Hadjimuddin inked MOA before the actual turn-over of 13 sewing machines and other equipment last March 15, 2016. The Memorandum of Agreement emphasized that the said facilities will be monitored by DTI for two years with regards to how they are helping the association generate income for the PWD beneficiaries.

“We are very glad that we have been chosen as one of the government training institutions to be aided with these facilities for our PWD clients. We are positive and confident that this will contribute in the sustainability not only of the association but more importantly the socio-economic status of the members.” Hadjimuddin said.

The Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop Association is ran and managed by DSWD’s Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC). It is a non-residential business-work facility that provides sheltered employment opportunities to PWDs, such as commercial crafts and arts.

Currently RSW Association has sixteen (16) members who are mostly orthopedically handicapped.

PWDs who graduated in commercial arts in AVRC after the 10-12 month training are absorbed in RSW so they can earn for themselves wherein 80% of the earning goes to the members while 20% is for the materials used, electricity and janitorial services.