CARMONA, Cavite – The municipal government, through its Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), inaugurated a coffee shop manned by deaf personnel and persons with Down syndrome on Friday, March 31.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and marker unveiling at DEAFinitely HAPPY Store were led by Cavite 5th District Rep. Roy M. Loyola, Mayor Dahlia A. Loyola, and other local officials.

Carmona LGU inaugurates a coffee shop manned by deaf personnel and persons with Down syndrome on March 31 (Carla Bauto Deña /MANILA BULLETIN)

The inauguration comes a few months ahead of Carmona’s cityhood plebiscite set in July.

“There will always be inclusive growth. Walang maiiwan sa laylayan; may kapansanan, senior citizen, bakla, tomboy, bata, matanda. Lahat sila ay aming aalagaan kasabay ng pag-usbong lalo na ng kaunlaran ng Carmona (No one will get left behind; persons with disabilities, senior citizens, gays, lesbians, children, older adults. We will take care of all of them amid Carmona’s booming progress),” Rep. Loyola said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.

The congressman said the store would provide a livelihood for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and help them live independently.

(Carla Bauto Deña /MANILA BULLETIN)

“We can assure that they will have a good future even if their families, parents are already gone. Sigurado tayong mabubuhay sila, hindi na sila aasa kung kani-kanino (We are sure that they will survive, they would not need to rely on just anyone).”

Various sectors working together for an inclusive community

Though initiated and supervised by the LGU, the store was launched through the joint efforts of two PWD associations: Social Enhancement Nurturing Program for Youth and Adult Deaf Society in Carmona, Cavite Inc. (SENYASCCI) and Down Syndrome Parents Support Group-Carmona Cavite (DYSNPESO-CC).

The project was also undertaken in partnership with Cavite State University Carmona (CVSU Carmona), which helped mount the concept and establish the store operation system.

“This is a good partnership because the knowledge and skills of our faculty members are put to use in a valuable manner, in our mission to provide quality services to our community,” CVSU Carmona Campus Administrator Dr. Cristina M. Signo said.

DEAFinitely HAPPY Store employees with PDAO and CVSU administrators and faculty (Carla Bauto Deña / MANILA BULLETIN)

PDAO head Rosebelle Ligaya Mercurio said they divided store operation duties to PWD personnel depending on their skills. Employees also needed to train under Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to prepare them for the job.

“Our challenges, number one is communication. Kasi po deaf sila, so tendency is sign language but not every sign is nakukuha (Because they are deaf, the tendency is to communicate through sign language but they can not always catch every sign),” Mercurio told the Manila Bulletin.

To ensure the employees get orders right, they came up with an order slip where customers can check their orders.

“Gumagamit din kami ng ibang strategy, para sa may Down syndrome, color-coding, para at least naiintindihan nila 'yung preparation, 'yung measurements (We also use other strategies, for persons with Down syndrome, we use color-coding so that they understand the preparation, measurements),” Mercurio said.

(Carla Bauto Deña /MANILA BULLETIN)

The shop’s employees are compensated per day. There is also an assigned parent on duty daily for supervision and transparency.

On March 8, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the 2022 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award-Group Category to Carmona’s PDAO for its comprehensive program for PWDs.