PWD groups call for more disability-friendly commuter facilities

How accessible are commuter facilities and establishments to persons with disabilities (PWD)?

A social media post showing a PWD going up a stairway connecting the LRT-1 Balintawak Station and EDSA Bus Carousel went viral on social media, Katrina Son reported Sunday on “24 Oras Weekend.”

“We would... like to clarify na ‘yung area po na ‘yun ay ‘yung access area o ‘yung interconnection from EDSA bus carousel to the LRT 1 Balintawak Station,” said Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) Corporate Communication Head Jackie Gorospe.

“So right now, po, mayroon tayong escalators and elevators sa Balintawak. Unfortunately, po, ‘yung nasa photo, ‘yun nga po ‘yung access area,” Gorospe added.

(We would like to clarify that that area is the access area or the interconnection from the EDSA bus carousel to the LRT 1 Balintawak Station. So right now, we have escalators and elevators in Balintawak. Unfortunately, the one in the photo is the access area.)

LRMC is the private operator of LRT-1.

Meanwhile, PWD advocate and former Vice President of the Makati PWD Federation Lalaine Guanzon said that commuting in the country was not easy for PWDs like her.

“Ako swerte ako nagkataon na ‘yung mga terminal ay nandito sa barangay ko kaya accessible sa akin. Sumasakay ako ng jeep,” Guanzon said.

(I am fortunate because the terminals are here in my barangay and are accessible to me. I ride a jeep.)

For its part, Pambansang Kapisanan ng may mga Kapansanan sa Pilipinas Inc. (PKKPI) lamented that the majority of public utilities remained inaccessible to PWDs.

PPKPI President Fe Corpuz said the government was not addressing their complaints and needs.

“We as the Pambansang Kapisanan ng mga may Kapansanan ng Pilipinas ay nalulungkot sobra po dahil sa hindi po na-implement ang Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 na nagpapahirap po lalo ng aming sektor upang maging mobile o makapaglakbay. ‘Yung mga hagdanan po ay hindi po siya akma sa amin na may kapansanan,” Corpuz said.

(We, as the National Association of People with Disabilities in the Philippines, are saddened by the non-implementation of Batas Pambansa No. 344, which makes it difficult for our sector to be mobile or to travel. The stairs are not suitable for us PWDs.)

BP 344 or “An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to install Facilities and Other Devices” states that public utilities “shall install and incorporate in such building, establishment, institution or public utility, such architectural facilities or structural features as shall reasonably enhance the mobility of disabled persons such as sidewalks, ramps, railings and the like.”

GMA News is still seeking comment from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Council on Disability Affairs regarding the matter. —  Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News