PWDs tell gov’t: No PWD ramps, no ‘good governance’ seal

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov 30 (PIA) – A national association of persons with disabilities (PWDs) is calling for a stricter audit on PWD accessibility features of buildings and structures, since accordingly, many local government units (LGUs) passed the audit despite non-compliance to PWD-friendly buildings and facilities.

The Pambansang Koalisyon ng May Kapansanan sa Pagbabago (PKKP), during its general assembly held November 23 expressed dismay over the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) to some LGUs, said Miriam Llanos, PKKP regional president. Llanos said many LGUs seem to have passed the accessibility audit despite having no PWD-accessible buildings and offices.

“I am not a wheelchair user, but I strongly advocate that all government buildings must already be wheelchair accessible,” Llanos said.

“It’s very painful for PWDs to see LGUs happily displaying their awards as SGLG passers, but in reality they are still non-compliant to Batasang Pambansa 344 and violators of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” she added.

The PKKP, composed of PWD leaders from all over the country is making a stand. “We hope to lobby with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to revisit the criteria for the SGLG. BP 344 has been a law for so long, but until now many PWDs still cannot get inside government establishments (due to absence of accessibility features such as ramps),” said Llanos.

Llanos is a social welfare officer for the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). She was also selected to be a member of the Committee on Grievance and Ethics by the board of directors. Henry Salac, an employee of the Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) is the PKKP’s City Head. Together with local PWD rights advocate Teddy Kahil and other PWD leaders in the region, the officials plan to aggressively push for the sector’s representation, rights and welfare in mainstream society.

“PWDs should be given a seat in the advisory board of any governing board in the region. Nothing should be discussed about PWDs without a PWD around,” Llanos said. (RVC/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

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