Introduction
 Persons with disabilities (PWDs) find difficulty in securing jobs mainly because of the lack of viable and appropriate employment opportunities. This is aggravated by stiff competition brought about by new technologies being adopted and introduced in various undertakings. Hence, many PWDs cannot compete and cope with the system of work operation, particularly those whose level of disabilities is more limiting. Though persons with disability are provided with the necessary skills, the pace of technological advancement has rendered their acquired skills outdated.
To address these needs, the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC), a vocational/rehabilitation training entity of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), was created in 1954. The goal of NVRC is to generate employment for the PWDs. It has consistently been exploring, modifying, and adapting dynamic approaches to continuously meet challenges and respond to the growing needs of each disability group, as well as broaden their prospect for employment. In 1997, the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program of NVRC was highlighted during the observance of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). Its objectives are to generate public awareness and strengthen the involvement of government and nongovernment organizations in promoting disability prevention, rehabilitation, and equalization of opportunities.
Corollary to this, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) articulated its anti-poverty strategy and implemented a flagship program on science and technology (S&T) for the poor, vulnerable, and the disabled, to uplift the living conditions of marginalized Filipinos. DOST, through its agencies, aimed to bring S&T into the mainstream of society, through technologies that could promote the welfare of differently-abled persons, by broadening their chances for self-sufficiency and employment opportunities.
During this time, the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) has developed a loom called the therapeutic loom or person with disabled leg loom (PDL) that was designed for those with disabilities at the lower extremities of the body. Moreover, this loom was subjected to a performance evaluation at the Tahanang Walang Hagdan and the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital, in terms of ease of operation and therapeutic benefits, respectively.
The technology garnered public interest when it won third place in the 1998 Search for Outstanding Research in Industry and Energy sponsored by the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD). This development spurred public awareness on activities being undertaken by PTRI for the welfare of persons with disabilities. Cognizant of this fact, NVRC sought the Institute’s assistance to be the beneficiary of the technology.
Through the flagship program of the DOST, the PTRI and NVRC
forged an agreement in CY 2000 to undertake a joint project
titled “Transfer and Commercialization of the Therapeutic and
Jack-type Loom Weaving Technology to People with Disability”.
The project was implemented from October 6, 2000 to October 7,
2001 with a budget of |
