Acting Governor Russell Bragas, Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera Director Raymond Panhon, Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Director Jennilyn Dawayan
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Cordillera Regional Committee on Disability Affairs is ramping up efforts to monitor compliance of government buildings with the Accessibility Law and to recommend corrective measures to prevent issues with agencies not being inclusive of people with disabilities.
Department of Social Welfare and Development focal person for youth and persons with disabilities Raphael Gabriel Tubaña explained that this aims to ensure the attainment of a barrier-free environment that will enable people with disabilities to have access to public and private buildings and establishments and such other places mentioned in Batas Pambansa 344, also known as the Accessibility Law.
An RCDA team recently visited the regional offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Budget and Management and the Land Transportation Office in Baguio City to check the accessibility features of their buildings, such as walkways, parking areas, ramps, handrails, doors and entrances, thresholds, lifts/elevators, stairs, corridors, washrooms and toilets, switches, controls, buzzers, floor finishes, drinking/water fountains, public telephones and seating accommodations.
Regional Federation of Persons with Disabilities president Avelino Tomas, who uses a wheelchair, tested the ramps, stairs, parking and entrances to see if they met specific measurements needed for people with disabilities to move safely and freely.
Tomas gave suggestions to improve mobility and accessibility for people with disabilities in case of emergency.
“Maglagay ng bell para sa mga blind, red light naman para sa mga deaf. Kasi hindi lang limited sa naka wheelchair ang pagiging PWD,” Tomas said.
Two of the three government buildings visited were found to be compliant with minor improvements needed, while one was found non-compliant with the requirements of Batas Pambansa 344.
“It’s good na mayroong accessibility audit na kinoconduct para maging PWD-friendly, maging inclusive siya sa mga persons with disabilities para iyon ang iprevent natin, na may issues and concerns sila na hindi PWD-inclusive ang agencies,” he said.
The results, along with the recommendations, will be transmitted to the agencies that were audited as a basis for improving their offices. (JDP/MAWC with Chelsea Mas -PIA CAR-SLU intern)
