Jeepneys must also comply with BP 344
The compliance by the transportation sector especially by jeepneys with Batas Pambansa 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law, is poor.
Dolores Laudenorio, head of the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs-Iloilo City, during the Philippine Information Agency-Cable TV program, said the negative attitudes of some drivers towards people with disabilities remain a concern in Iloilo City.
She said that her office has been receiving complaints from PWDs who have been refused accommodation by jeepney drivers because folding the PWD’s wheelchair and settling her or him on the front seat takes time.
Several of these drivers ignored the PWD for several occasions, and the only thing that the concerned PWD would do is to send a text message to the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs, stating the plate number of the said jeepney.
The OPDA will then inform through text messages the Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office and they will be the one to inform the traffic auxiliary assigned in the said route to apprehend the driver.
“We also report the situation to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and likewise the LTFRB will call on the concerned jeep’s operator and the driver for an orientation on BP 344,” Laudenorio said.
She said the PWD officials are also planning to meet with Mayor Jed Mabilog and the chairmen of various committees of the City Council to further intensify their campaign to fully implement BP 344.
OUTSTANDING PWDs
Meanwhile, the 10 outstanding PWDs in Iloilo City and Province will be recognized in rites today at SM City Iloilo.
The recognition of the outstanding PWDs will mark the culmination of the 32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week celebration themed “Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able.”
Iloilo Provincial Federation of Differently-Abled Persons President Armie Demagajes from Dumangas town leads this year’s awardees. Other awardees from the province are Lester Jose Bajada of Batad, Bobby Pahayahay of Concepcion, Anna Liza Hutierrez of San Enrique.
From Iloilo City, the awardees are Jerry Martinez, Daniel Jarencio of the Philippine Blind Union, Marc Espesor of Cerebral Palsy Association of the Philippines, Ronald Cortez of the Stimulation, Therapeutic Action Center, Gil Fresno of Breaking Barriers Young Adults and Wilma Gabales of the Office of Persons with Disabilities Affairs – Iloilo City.
Laudenorio said the awardees were chosen by Handicap International and OPDA, organizer of the award.
