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As called for in Article 32 on International Cooperation of the UN-CRPD, the Council intensified forging of partnerships with global partners on disability. Last October 6 and 8, 2010 OIC Matt Lee, Jr., led dialogues with visiting foreign experts from Japan, Korea and Thailand representing Disabled People’s International-Asia Pacific, Nakhompathom Independent Living Center, Thailand Council of Independent Living Center and Network of Music and Arts of PWDs.

1. Disabled People’s International (DPI) – team led by Mr. Shoji Nakanishi, Chairperson, DPI, together with Ms. Suju Kwon, Program Officer, Toyota Foundation and Mr. Abner Manlapaz, President, Life Haven Independent Living Center shares CRPD local/Regional breakthroughs and concerns with Council officers and NHE-JICA Project Consultants.

Officer-In-Charge, Mateo A. Lee, Jr. with the Officers and Staff of the Council, Ms. Nelia R. De Jesus, Chief, Technical Cooperation Center, Ms. Dolores Deang-Soterio, Chief, Programs Management Division, Mr. Miguel Antonio Limon, Information Officer IV, Mr. John Restie T. Hizon, Planning Officer, Ms. Josephine V. Despi, Project Development Officer and the Â鶹´«Ã½/JICA NHE Project, Mr. Daisuke Sagiya and Ms. Naoko Ito, JICA Experts, greets the foreign experts on Independent Living from Thailand, Mr. Teerawat Sripathomsawad, Founder/Executive Director, Nakormpratum Independent Living Center, Mr. Paradorm Koomsup, National Project Advisor on Independent Living, Disabled People’s International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI/AP) and Mr. Sawang Srisom, Chairperson/Project Manager, Network of Music and Arts of Persons with Disabilities (NMAD). This dialogue on October 8, 2010 at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Atrium led to forging an agreement to push for Independent Living in the country, in a big way.