METRO Manila policemen have come up with another bright idea to further enhance police-community partnership in the metropolis and its nearby regions: gift persons with disabilities (PWDs) and belonging to the “poorest of the poor” in different parts of the country with free wheelchairs.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Major General Felipe R. Natividad, on Wednesday, lauded the Southern Police District (SPD) headed by Brig. Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg for their noble program, the latest recipient of which was a 7-year-old blind boy diagnosed with autism in Camarines Sur.

The NCRPO chief cited the SPD District Community Affairs Development Division headed by Lt. Col. Jenny DC Tecson for following up on the “Gulong ng Suerte” program conceptualized by the commander of the NCRPO Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Col. Lambert Suerte.

Natividad said the project has benefitted scores of PWDs who have no financial capability to buy wheelchairs that will help them move or even work in some cases.

“I’d like to commend my men who have been rendering services to the Filipino people even beyond their jurisdiction as long as they can,” he said.

Apart from launching successful community service projects in the southern part of the metropolis, the SPD envisioned providing assistance to PWDs who belongs to the “depressed” areas in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.

So far, four beneficiaries from Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cordillera, and Camarines Sur have received their wheelchairs from the SPD-DCADD.

One of the four is a 7-year-old blind boy diagnosed with autism.

The SPD-DCADD granted the wish of the boy to have a wheelchair after they heard his simple request from his family.

According to the boy’s mother Aivelyn Canape, she prematurely gave birth to her son John Angelo during her 6th month of pregnancy. With the insufficient financial capability to place the baby under hospital incubation, the poor parents decided to place John Angelo in a box with improvised lights that affected his eyesight.

Angelo’s father, Joseph works as a construction worker and sidelines in a local poultry farm to help feed his family. However, his meager salary is not enough to support the medication of his child.

Amid life adversities, John Angelo wished to have a wheelchair for him to move around without any help.

Hearing the boy’s wish, the SPD-DCADD wasted no time going to his home to bring him his gift.

Lt. Col. Tecson said that the family’s words of appreciation and happiness on Angelo’s face made their journey to Camarines Sur worthwhile and meaningful.

“Team NCRPO also considers extending the service given to the family by helping John Angelo with his medication,” said the official.

Maj. Gen. Natividad said they expect their continuing project to change more lives as they plan to help more people regardless of age, gender, location, and status in life.