Bill mandating provision of wheelchairs for PWDs in all establishments filed

A measure has been filed at the House of Representatives mandating all public and private establishments to have readily available wheelchairs for persons with disability (PWDs) and other individuals needing similar care.

In filing House Bill 8436, Quezon City Representative Anthony Peter "Onyx" Crisologo maintained that protecting the rights of PWDs remains to be a national concern and an evolving area of study.

He said that while initiatives are constantly being pushed to ensure the protection of the rights of PWDs, there are still gaps in current government efforts that need to be reviewed and enhanced to guarantee their responsiveness.

House Bill 8436, Crisologo said, aims to strengthen the government's efforts to improve the accessibility to services and mobility of all PWDs and other individuals needing similar care.

It mandates the provision of wheelchairs in all public and private establishments for the use of PWDs and other individuals including senior citizens and pregnant women.

The measure also aims to ensure that all needs of PWDs are taken into consideration and given importance and proper support, Crisologo said.

Meanwhile, the blocking of PWD access ramps will be penalized with a fine of P5,000 under the measure, he added.—AOL, GMA News