PWD group says jeepney modernization program lacks inclusiveness

A member of a persons with disability (PWD) group on Monday said the consultations on the government's public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program lacked inclusiveness.

During the Senate committee on public services hearing, Laline Guanzon of the Makati PWD Federation lamented that the modernized jeepneys are not PWD-friendly, saying that they were not represented properly during consultations on the program.

"Nakakalungkot kasi during the launching of that, nakakalungkot talaga kasi nakita ko walang PWD na nandoon na present para masabi if this is accessible or not," Guanzon said.

"Okay, pinalagpas namin, and we do some ocular visit sa mga manufacturer, nakita rin namin hindi compliant. Ang Pilipinas ho ay signatory sa United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, kung saan mahigpit na ipinapatupad ang accessibility, ang mobility. Mag-rereport ang Pilipinas next year; ano pong ipre-present natin?" she added.

Guanzon also pointed out that the ramp designed for PWDs are also necessary for the elderly.

"Ang rampa po ay not only for PWD, ito po lahat tayo candidate na gumamit nito kasi lahat tayo ay tatanda, lahat po tayo nangangailangan ng ramp. Ang ating mga nanay, ang ating mga lola, ito po'y paghahanda para sa pagtanda natin," Guanzon said.

"Sana lang po Senadora, isama niyo po kami sa pagpaplano. Alam niyo po nung ginagawa 'yan, ang dami naming naririnig pero wala kaming nakikita na kami po ay direktang kasama," she added.

Guanzon also said that she tried to board seven of the modernized jeepneys parked at the Senate. However, she said, her wheelchair could not fit in any of them.

"Tinry kong sakyan. Out of the seven, walang nagkasya, kahit isa po wala talagang nagkasya. Pinilit kong umakyat, nakiusap kami kung pwedeng umakyat, ang ginawa ko pinicturan ko isa-isa. Wala talagang nagkasya," she said.

"Merong isa doon pwede na sana...Ito yung sinasabi ko na kaya kami nangungulit, sir sama niyo kami, thank you Usec. Orbos, in-invite niyo kami ngayon at least na-prove namin na imagine seven wala hong nagkasya kahit isa," she added.

Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, then initiated an inspection of the said modernized jeepneys.

Obet Martin, national president of drivers and operators' union Pasang Masda, said that the jeepneys are only prototypes that are still subject to modification.

"[K]aya nga ho iyan ang pinapakita namin para kung may pagkukulang, ma-modify at subject to dialogue," he said, and thanked the PWD group for notifying them of the problem. — BM, GMA News