Access-friendly devices for PWDs, senior citizens pressed

City officials want to enable senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) unhampered mobility and ease with the provision of access-friendly devices in buildings within the city.

Under Resolution No. 526, series of 2022, local legislators claimed that the Accessibility Law must be strictly implemented in the city, particularly on buildings that have at least 3 storeys, like commercial establishments, office buildings, schools and institutions, hospitals and apartments, to provide elevators and escalators and other similar disabled-friendly devices to enhance the mobility of PWDs.

The council encouraged owners or administrators of at least 3 storey buildings to provide facilities and devices for easy mobility of PWDs and senior citizens.

The council ordered the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to conduct an inspection in the implementation of Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 or the Accessibility Law on private and public buildings in the city and to consider as a requirement prior to the granting of a building permit such requirements as may be allowed under existing law, rules and regulations.

During the Senior Citizens Officials for a Day (SCOFAD) session held on October 17, 2022, the SCOFAD council adopted the proposal of SCOFAD Councilor Ursula Alfa B. Dao-ey that sought to enable senior citizens and PWDs unhampered mobility and move with ease within the city with the provision of access-friendly facilities and devices and buildings.

The 2017 population statistics noted a total of at least 53,000 senior citizens and at least 6,600 persons with functional disabilities in the city and Benguet, most of whom experience mobility problems due to some debilitating illness past and present and due to growing weakness from aging.

According to the council, there is an exigent need to accommodate, integrate and enable the senior citizens to move around in the city to attend to their daily needs with ease and without having to struggle with physical barriers and other forms of physical difficulties, such as unmanageable steps and stairs.

While the city government provided blue lanes, side holding railings in most areas, and other access devices such as ramps, the Council emphasized that it still remains in a limited capacity, thus, discriminating against persons with mobility difficulties such as the PWDs and senior citizens.

On February 25, 1983, Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 or the Accessibility Law was passed to enhance the mobility of persons with disabilities by requiring buildings, institutions, establishments, and public utilities to install facilities and other devices in order to promote the realization of the rights of disabled persons to participate fully in the social life and the development of the societies in which they live and in the enjoyment of the opportunities available to other citizens. – Dexter A. See