MANILA --A group of persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Tuesday held a rally in front of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Quezon City, urging the agency to include their concerns and rights as commuters in the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
Around 30 PWDs also called on LTFRB officials to ensure that the modern PUVs that would be coming out soon on the roads all over the country would be accessible to all commuters without discrimination.
Abner Manlapaz, president of the Life Haven Independent Living Center, said the new PUVs' design must ensure the accessiblity for all PWDs.
Manlapaz said that designs for accessibility of the modern transportation should include ramp or lift; spaces for wheelchairs with safety accessories like belts,clamps grab bar; audio announcement system; and visual announcement system.
He noted that terminals for land, air and sea transport should also be PWD-friendly, with accessible facilities not limited to toilets, ticketing counters, waiting lounge, parking /drop off space for persons with disabilities; directional tactile in appropriate areas; and visible signages.
The LTFRB should also require PUV drivers, operators and frontline personnel to undergo sensitivity training so that they can better understand the special needs of the sectors, Manlapaz added.
He said that limitations on access to transport system would prevent PWDs from getting education, jobs, or go to other places whenever they want it.
He also expressed fear that if there will only be fewer modern transport system which will be compliant to PWDs proposed designs, such will not equally promote their rights in a society.
"Sana lahat ng jeepneys maging accessible na dahil binabago na disensyo. Hindi pwedeng isa, dalawa o tatlo lang ang accesible (We hope that all the jeepneys will be accessible since they are already starting to change the designs. And it should never be just one, two, or three alone that will be accessible)," he added.
At present, he said that the only accessible bus operating around the metropolis and nearby provinces are the point to point shuttle service.
In 2010, the Philippine Statistics Authority had recorded that out of the 92.1 million households in the country, 1.4 million or 1.57 percent had some forms of disability.
Manlapaz also cited the Batas Pambansa 344, also known as the Accessibility Law passed in 1983,which seeks the enhancement of the mobility of disabled persons by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishment and public utilities to install facilities and other devices.
"The Philippines as a signatory to the UN Convention On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is duty bound to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities to accessible built environment, public transport and information and communication technology. The use of universal design as one of the principles of the convention must be used in the design of built environment, public transport and program designs for the benefit of greater number of users including persons with disabilities, children and older persons," he said.
For his part, Transportation Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon said that the very reason why they are modernizing public transport is to provide access even to PWDs.
"Doors are made to fit wheelchair ramps in some units," said de Leon in a text message.
He said that some of the chairs are removed to have space for wheelchairs.
"They should not bark at PUV modernization. DOTr (Department of Transportation) and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) have made it a policy to make the units PWD and elderly friendly," de Leon said. (PNA)
