Text and photos by JAKE SORIANO
The Philippines until now has no accessible public transport for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Advocates lament this sad fact, and are calling for a more PWD-friendly and inclusive system for the sector. After all, PWDs travel too. (See Public transport still not PWD-friendly – advocates)
As signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the country has a commitment to ensure the access of PWDs to public transportation, they point out.
“Many establishments (are now) complying with the accessibility law,” says National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) acting executive director Carmen Zubiaga.
To a certain extent, that is. “Except the transport sector,” she adds.
What then does a PWD-accessible public transport system look like? What features make it friendly to the sector? What about the other public facilities?
These photos, taken from five different cities overseas, offer a glimpse of how PWDs can be assisted and can guide public and private sector planners on how to build PWD-friendly facilities.
