MANILA, Philippines — A group of handicapped persons Wednesday asked President Aquino to provide them with jobs and shelter rather than alms through the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.

Members of Kilusan ng Maralitang May Kapansanan (KMMK) held a demonstration at the Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) near Malacañang at around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday where they urged Aquino not to be blind, deaf and mute to the demands of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Manila Police District Station 8 commander Police Superintendent Jimmy Tiu said that around 50 PWDs joined last Wednesday's protest action.

“I hope they would treat us as human and not to be blind, deaf and mute to our demands,” KMMK spokesman Mike Catain said.

Catain said PWDs needed stable livelihood, shelter and other basic services instead of the dole-outs being given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“We wonder where the DSWD allocates its fund considering that it has one of the biggest shares in the national budget. We wonder how this agency spends funds while people like us fail to get our share as one of the major beneficiaries of the department,” he said.

As proof to his claim, Catain pointed out that PWDs working at the Rehabilitation Shelter Workshop (RSW) were set to be laid-off in days to come.

“The agency headed by Secretary Dinky Soliman brags to give poor families with mere alms in form of CCT and dole-outs but it fails to offer the ranks of the PWDs the proper treatment and services they rightfully deserve,” the KMMK spokesman said.

The group also criticized the DSWD for allegedly being an instrument in the exploitation of PWDs in forms of low wages and lack of benefits.

They also cried foul over the threats of demolition of a DWSD property at Escopa in Quezon City to pave the way for the construction of a broadcast network company. Catain claimed that at least 200 handicapped families were facing eviction from the property because of the project.

“We have nowhere to go. As the government slowly forgets its obligation to provide us with the basic services that we need, it also takes away our right to live decently and with dignity,” he said.

“We just hope that PNoy will try to open his eyes, lend us his ears and speak on our demands for jobs, homes and justice like an able person who is not numb to what we feel. As PWDs, we hope that PNoy will serve as our ears and voices in order for us to live like normal people,” Catain said.