DSWD hails man with disability who died while saving others during Tino wrath

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over the weekend paid tribute to Arci John Rodriguez, a 23-year-old person with developmental delay from Negros Occidental who died while saving his neighbors at the height of Typhoon Tino's onslaught.

In a statement, DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said Rodriguez’s selfless act showed that “bravery comes from the heart” and stressed the need to include persons with disabilities in disaster preparedness.

She said his developmental delay did not stop him from choosing to save others even if it meant risking his own life, and that his story is a reminder to Filipinos that “every person, with or without disability, has the strength to make a difference.”

“Arci reminded us that heroism has no limits. He should inspire us to build a disaster response system that is safe, accessible, and inclusive for everyone,” Dumlao said.

“His actions teach us that when we include persons with disabilities in our plans and in our communities, we gain more strength, more courage, and more hope,” she added.

The DSWD field office in Negros Occidental extended support to Rodriguez’s grieving family by providing cash assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). His family received P10,000 on Nov. 8.

The DSWD extended its deepest sympathies to his family, “whose selfless service and sacrifice will continue to inspire a more compassionate and inclusive nation.”

Last week, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), an attached agency of the DSWD, called on local government units and national government agencies to prioritize disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction (DiDRR) following Rodriguez’s heroism.

In a statement, the NCDA said Rodriguez’s example should prompt DRR training for responders with disabilities and formally acknowledged that persons with disabilities can serve as DRR volunteers.

On Nov. 4 in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, Rodriguez joined two local responders in evacuating residents of Barangay Lalagsan by guiding people across a hanging steel bridge over the Bungahin River.

The bridge collapsed, hurling three of them into the river. Rodriguez was unable to hold on to the rescue rope tossed to them and ended up losing his life to save others. — JMA, GMA Integrated News