TUGUEGARAO CITY, (PNA) — The Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in cooperation with the Regional Federation of Persons with Disabilities (RFPDs) had jointly undertaken an “Orientation and Organization of Access Audit at the Local Level” here recently.
The undertaking aims to monitor compliance by public and private establishments of Batas Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law.
Andres Rhudy Ravelo Jr., chief administrative officer of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA,) said district engineers and building officers from the provinces and cities convened and briefed Persons with Disabilities (PWD) on the highlights of the Accessibility Law and other PWD-related laws like Magna Carta for PWD (Republic Act 9442), RA 10542, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Budget Circular, the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and Accessibility Monitoring Tools.
Ravelo said access is a problem to PWDs and that’s the reason why BP 344 was enacted to look into their needs.”With the enactment of the RA 9442, additional privileges has been granted to PWDs like 20 percent discounts to food establishments, hotels/restaurants, movie houses, medicines, medical and dental services, fare, education and others,” Ravelo added..
Ravelo stressed that business establishment owners and other concerned persons should observe PWDs rights, otherwise, they will be punished under the law.
On the other hand, Benjamin Banatao, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Focal Person for PWDs, said with the Convention on the Rights of PWDs, they are given same and equal rights and entitlements as well as freedom with those of other individuals.
“Gone were the days when PWDs were object of charity, medical treatment and social protection,” Banatao said..
DPWH was recently recognized by the NCDA as PWD – friendly office in Region 02.