Schools nationwide mark Sight Saving Month to raise awareness
EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Briones has urged schools nationwide to hold activities this month to mark a 62-year-old law that aims to raise public awareness of the rights and welfare of the visually impaired.
The late President Ramon Magsaysay signed the law making August “sight saving month,” which begins with a “White Cane Safety Day” on the first day of the month.
In an earlier memorandum, Briones asked all public and private schools with special education programs to spearhead the information campaign on the rights and welfare of the blind and people with poor vision.
She said activities should promote the white cane as the symbol of mobility and safety for the visually impaired, noting that schools should serve as venues for the development of awareness campaigns on public-private partnership programs for the blind.
The activities should primarily aim to “strengthen and protect the physical, moral and social well-being of people who are blind and with low vision,” Briones said.
Records of the Department of Health show there are some 500,000 visually impaired Filipinos.
According to the World Health Organization, there are around 45 million blind people globally and about 269 million with low vision or with some visual impairment.
Briones said in her memorandum the school activities may be conducted with government agencies, nongovernment and civic organizations.
The activities, she said, can showcase the talents and academic skills of visually impaired learners and be in the form of fora and panel discussions where best practices in preventing blindness can be shared. They are also encouraged to participate in sports and the arts.
Republic Act No. 6759 or the White Cane Act was passed for the purpose of “instilling public awareness of the plight of the blind, promoting recognition and acceptance of the ‘white cane’ as a symbol of the need of the blind for specific assistance and as a reminder of the individual’s duty to care for and accord due respect to his unfortunate brethren.”
Magsaysay’s Proclamation No. 40, signed on July 5, 1954, declares August as sight saving month to promote awareness of the importance of proper eye care and blindness prevention. TVJ
