By CESAR JOLITO III

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has renewed calls for stronger, disability-inclusive disaster preparedness following the death of a 23-year-old man with developmental delay who saved his neighbors at the height of Typhoon “Tino” in Negros Occidental.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency is honoring the bravery of Arci John Rodriguez, whose actions, she stressed, prove that heroism is not defined by physical or cognitive ability.

“Arci reminded us that heroism has no limits. His developmental delay did not stop him from choosing to save others even at the cost of his own life,” Dumlao said.

“Bravery comes from the heart, and his story is a reminder that every person, with or without disability, has the strength to make a difference,” she added.

Dumlao said Rodriguez’s sacrifice highlights the urgent need to ensure that disaster-preparedness systems nationwide are accessible, inclusive and safe for persons with disabilities (PWDs) — a sector often overlooked during emergency planning and evacuation.

She added that Rodriguez’s story should serve as a national wake-up call to strengthen community-based preparedness, provide adaptive early-warning systems and ensure that PWDs are not only protected during disasters but also empowered as active participants in response efforts.

“Arci’s heroism must inspire us to build a disaster response framework where no one is left behind,” Dumlao said./CJ, WDJ