City officials recently requested all terminals of public utility transportation in the city to have at least one wheelchair reserved in their place as a mobility aide for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
In a resolution, local legislators stated that by providing wheelchairs, it does not only enhance but also reduces pressure sores for PWDs, elderly, and cancer patients who by reason of their disability, old age and medical condition have served as barriers in their mobility.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which the Philippines is a signatory, it provides that State parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access on an equal basis with others, the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, including information and communication technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.
Further, it provides that State parties shall take effective measures to provide personal mobility with the greatest possible independence for PWDs by facilitating access by PWDs to quality mobility aides.
Republic Act (RA) 7277 and Batas Pambansa (BP) Bilang 344 also institutionalizes the promotion for the monitoring of PWDs and access on the use of public transport facilities.
The council claimed that most PWDs, senior citizens and cancer and medical patients use public transport as their mode of transportation when they travel whether related to their health, business and/or other concerns.
Moreover, the said wheelchair aide shall be extended to senior citizens, medical patients and those passengers in need of said aide for safety and convenience of their travel.