MANILA -- Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Tuesday approved an ordinance that orders courtesy seats for persons with disability (PWDs), pregnant women and senior citizens in all private and public establishments.
Authored by Councilors Donato Matias and Franz Pumaren, Ordinance 2804 series of 2018, states that courtesy seats in all establishments in Quezon City must be provided to give PWDs, pregnant women, and senior citizens more comfort and safety.
“Despite the existence of national laws and other ordinances establishing special lanes and other privileges for the said sectors, there is still a need to extend additional reasonable accommodation in all private and public establishments in keeping up with their special needs and concerns,” the measure said.
“All establishments will also have to provide courtesy seat signage,” it added. When the designated seats are occupied by other persons, they are to give up their seats, the new ordinance provides.
Owners, managers, and operators of private establishments who fail to implement the new policy shall receive a notice of warning for the first offense.
A PHP5,000 fine and/or a six-month suspension of business permit on the second offense and a PHP5,000 fine and/or revocation of business permit on the third offense shall be meted out to establishments found in violation of the ordinance.
All government institutions within the city shall also receive a warning from the Quezon City Office for Senior Citizens Affairs, Persons with Disability Affairs Office and the Social Services Development Department for the first offense and corresponding penalties for subsequent offenses. (PNA)
