Some persons with disabilities (PWDs) can now start their chosen livelihood projects as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program has provided them with electric vehicles to operate their transport businesses.

Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez of the DSWD’s Operations Group, representing Secretary Rex Gatchalian, led the turnover ceremony of the electric vehicles to 20 SLP Associations composed of 2,300 persons with disabilities on Friday at the agency’s Central Office in Quezon City.

Implemented under the Persons with Disabilities Electric Transportation Services (PWD-ETS) project, each SLPA, composed of 115 members, will manage one electric vehicle.

Secretary Gatchalian, in his message delivered by Undersecretary Romualdez, said the project is in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide opportunities for the persons with disabilities sector to ensure they are not left behind in development.

“The DSWD established the PWD-ETS project to address their livelihood concerns and provide them with a modern transportation initiative,” the DSWD chief said.

The PWD-ETS was piloted in 2023 with an initial 10 SLPAs as beneficiaries and was later expanded to include 10 more SLPAs from Las Piñas, Manila, Caloocan, Pasay, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, Muntinlupa and Quezon City.

Aside from the electric vehicles, the SLPAs were also enrolled in capacity-building activities to ensure they can manage their livelihood projects.

Representing the SLPAs, Leigh Ann Banayat of the Mandaluyong SLPA expressed the groups’ gratitude to the DSWD for creating this unique and responsive program, which allows the persons with disabilities sector to engage in meaningful projects.

Banayat encouraged her fellow persons with disabilities to strive hard, emphasizing that each individual has skills to contribute to society.

Caloocan South PWD-ETS SLPA President Nilo delos Reyes, for his part, said: “Of all the DSWD projects, I am most impressed with this one because it is long-term. Persons with disabilities, as well as parents of children with disabilities, were given the opportunity to earn a living and help others.”

With training in entrepreneurship and management, the SLPAs engaged Global Electric Transportation Inc. Philippines as their chosen service provider.

GET Philippines President Sigfrido Tinga also thanked the DSWD and the SLPAs for giving them the opportunity to work on a project that will positively impact the lives of persons with disabilities. Jing Villamente