World Vision’s CREATE Project Strengthens Disability Inclusion Through Collaboration

By:  Lalaine Manalo | Communications and Research Consultant

Maguindanao del Sur — Preparing communities for disasters means making sure that everyone is included—especially persons with disabilities, who often face greater risks during emergencies.

Recognizing this, the Community Readiness and Empowerment through Anticipatory Training and Engagement (CREATE) Project of World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF), in partnership with Christian Blind Mission (CBM), conducted a Disability Rights and Inclusion Orientation for local government units and partner agencies in the municipalities of Pagalungan and Kabuntalan.

Funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH), the orientation gathered representatives from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDO), Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAO), Rural Health Units (RHU), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), and the Integrated Mindanaons Association for the Natives (IMAN), who will further cascade the learning to partner communities in Ligawasan.

The activity is part of the CREATE Project’s broader commitment to ensuring that anticipatory action, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian response are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs and rights of persons with disabilities.

“World Vision, through the CREATE Project, promotes the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly in helping communities prepare for the impacts of floods and other hazards. We believe that disability inclusion must be at the heart of anticipatory action in flood-prone communities. By ensuring that early warning systems, preparedness plans, and response mechanisms are accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of persons with disabilities, we can protect lives, strengthen resilience, and leave no one behind before disasters,” said Louie Bullanday, Project Manager of the CREATE Project. 

Building Knowledge, Promoting Inclusion

The orientation was facilitated by Mr. Genaro Sanchez, Program Officer of Christian Blind Mission (CBM), who guided participants through key concepts on disability rights, the rights-based approach to inclusion, disability-sensitive communication, reasonable accommodation, relevant legal frameworks, and inclusive disaster risk reduction.

Beyond the technical sessions, participants worked together to identify practical actions they can implement in their own municipalities. These included improving the accessibility of public services, strengthening partnerships with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and ensuring that disability inclusion becomes part of local planning and disaster preparedness efforts.

More importantly, the discussions reinforced a shared message: creating inclusive communities is everyone’s responsibility. It requires collaboration among government agencies, civil society organizations, humanitarian actors, and persons with disabilities themselves.

Changing Perspectives Through Learning

For many participants, the orientation became an opportunity to challenge long-held assumptions and rethink how disability is viewed within their communities.

“For me, being a person with disability is not a burden, nor should they simply be pitied. We now see many persons with disabilities making valuable contributions to society. They have unique qualities, and sometimes they are even more knowledgeable than able-bodied persons,” shared Baimanis Pendaliday, Project Officer of IMAN.

As IMAN implements the CREATE Project in the Municipality of Ligawasan, Pendaliday emphasized their commitment to bring the lessons back to the communities they serve.

“As a partner of World Vision and implementer in the Municipality of Ligawasan, we will re-echo everything we learned to our partner barangays so that more communities can become inclusive.”

She also highlighted the value of working together.

“Collaboration among agencies is important because it helps us understand the real needs of persons with disabilities and determine how we can better support them.”

For her, the vision is simple:

“An inclusive community is one where there is no discrimination and where no one is left behind.”

Inclusion Means Participation

For Miasarah Asi, Municipal Social Welfare Officer of Pagalungan, inclusion goes beyond providing services—it means ensuring that persons with disabilities have a voice in shaping the programs intended for them.

“I hope our municipality continues to strengthen the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making, planning programs and services, and designing activities intended for them. We want them to help lead these initiatives so they become active partners rather than passive recipients. Our goal is to become a model community that provides wider opportunities for persons with disabilities.”

She concluded with a powerful reminder:

“An inclusive community is one where disability is never a barrier to participation and opportunity.”

For Andre Kenat, a Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS), the orientation reinforced a simple but meaningful principle.

“An inclusive community is one where everyone is heard.”
Learning from Lived Experience

One of the most meaningful parts of the orientation came from listening directly to persons with disabilities, whose lived experiences provided valuable insights on what genuine inclusion looks like.

For Sulaiman B. Macmod, Head of the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in Kabuntalan, inclusion is rooted in unity.

“An inclusive community is like a kumpol ng walis tingting (a bundle of broomsticks)—everyone is united, from persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to leaders and all community members.”

Among his biggest takeaways was learning respectful and effective ways to communicate with persons with disabilities.

“The best thing I learned is how to engage with persons with disabilities—especially how to communicate with people who cannot hear or speak. They taught us these approaches, and I really appreciated learning them.”

Living in a flood-prone municipality also strengthened his appreciation for inclusive disaster preparedness.

“As persons with disabilities living in an area vulnerable to flooding, we also need to be prepared for disasters.”

He ended with a heartfelt appeal:

“Please continue supporting persons with disabilities by creating more opportunities and providing sustainable livelihood assistance.”

Accessibility Creates Belonging

For Hani Masasabulod, PDAO Head of the Municipality of Pagalungan and a woman with disability, inclusion is about creating a community where everyone feels they belong.

Guided by her personal motto, “If others can do it, why can’t I?” she shared:

“An inclusive community is one where every person with disability truly belongs.”

She also pointed to one of the growing concerns in their municipality.

“One of the challenges we are seeing today is the increasing number of persons experiencing mental disabilities. Our office continues to raise awareness and strengthen interventions to help address this concern.”

Speaking on behalf of persons with disabilities in Pagalungan, she expressed hope for more accessible and inclusive public services.

“We hope that services will always be designed to be accessible for persons with disabilities.”

Moving Forward Together

The Disability Rights and Inclusion Orientation served as a reminder that resilient communities can only be built when everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and be heard.

By bringing together local government units, humanitarian organizations, community partners, and organizations of persons with disabilities, the CREATE Project continues to strengthen inclusive anticipatory action and disaster preparedness across vulnerable communities.As local stakeholders return to their respective municipalities equipped with new knowledge, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of disability inclusion, they carry with them a shared commitment—to build communities where accessibility is prioritized, participation is valued, and no one is left behind.

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of World Vision Development Foundation and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V.