City officials recently reminded all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, drivers and barkers in the city to respect and acknowledge the persons with disability (PWD) identification card, strictly observe the mandated fare discount and the non-discrimination of PWDs as mandated by law.
Under Resolution No. 546, series 2024, city legislators stated that the earlier status were enacted social legislations to uplift the conditions of the marginalized sector, particularly the PWDs and that this legislations must be upheld for the realization of the purposes of their being passed into laws.
The council noted that it is a policy of the State to uplift the conditions of the marginalized sectors, like the PWDs, into mainstream society and exert efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental, and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to PWDs.
Further, the body claimed that various incidents that reached the city’s Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) showed that PUV drivers and barkers in their loading areas collecting the passenger fares are not allegedly giving discounts to PWDs or if they do, it is coupled with unnecessary remarks or actions that make them uncomfortable or feeling discriminated.
Republic Act (RA) 10754 that expanded the benefits and privileges of PWDs that provided a 20-percent discount on actual fare for land transportation travel, such as, but not limited to, public utility buses or jeepneys, taxis, shuttle services, among others.
Moreover, RA 9442 amended RA 7227 or the Magna Carta for PWDs prohibited the verbal and non-verbal ridicule and vilification against PWDs and penalizes such acts.
Copies of the approved resolution will be transmitted to the various PUV associations in the city, the Land Transportation Office, the land transportation Franchising Regulatory Board and other concerned agencies and offices for information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action. By Dexter A. See
