DOTr, DPWH partner up to make EDSA more pedestrian, PWD friendly

The Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways will collaborate on creating a more accessible EDSA for pedestrians and commuters, particularly persons with disabilities.

DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said that they will implement short-term action plans to widen pedestrian lanes, open bike lanes and repair stops, and remove obstructions along pedestrian pathways.

The two, together with other stakeholders, conducted inspection Tuesday on pedestrian infrastructures along EDSA following directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make Metro Manila's major thoroughfare more accessible and walkable.

The inspection was done from Ayala in Makati City to Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City starting 6 a.m.

“Kung araw-araw mong binabaybay 'yung EDSA, nakaka-stress talaga kung komyuter ka. Kailangan talaga once and for all, sabi nga ng Pangulo natin, ayusin na natin [ang EDSA]. Andami-dami nang nagrereklamo pero wala pa ring nangyayari, so ang sabi ng Pangulo, ang utos niya sa 'min ni Sec. Banoy at [MMDA] Chairman Don Artes, gawin na nating pedestrian friendly at commuter friendly itong EDSA,” Dizon said.

(If you are passing through EDSA every day, it really is stressing if you are a commuter. Like what the President said, we really need to fix [EDSA] once and for all. There had been so many people complaining but still nothing has happened, so the President ordered us, Sec. Banoy and [MMDA] Chairman Don Artes, let us make EDSA pedestrian friendly and commuter friendly.)

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Move as One Coalition co-convenor Dr. Maureen Mata shared that the inspection revealed further difficulties for commuters, especially for members of vulnerable sectors like persons with disabilities.

“Nakita namin ang sidewalk ay di akma para sa pedestrian, mananakay, commuter. Buwis-buhay po dahil po kami ay naglakad sa kalsada na kung saan po may bike lane,” shared Mata.

(We saw that the sidewalk is not fit for pedestrians and commuters. It is life-threatening because we are walking along the roads where the bike lanes are.)

“Hindi po accessible ang ating bangketa. Mayroon po sanang pwedeng lakaran na sidewalk o bangketa ngunit ito po ay may harang. Pangalawa, basa po dahil may natagas na parang pipe sa gilid. Mabaho po, mapanghe, may basurang nakaharang. Madaming barriers na nakaharang doon, at wala din pong rampa para kami ay tumawid… Napakabilis din po ng mga traffic lights,” she continued.

(The sidewalks aren’t accessible. There is a sidewalk where we could have walked, but there are obstructions. Secondly, it’s wet because there’s a broken pipe along the sides. It’s smelly, smells like urine, and had garbage obstructing it. There are a lot of barriers blocking the way, and there are no ramps for us to pass through… The traffic lights are so fast, too.)

Mata noted that discussions between civil society organizations, DPWH, and DOTr revealed possible solutions in making a more accessible EDSA.

“Noong nakapanayam namin si Secretary Vince at Secretary Banoy po, they’re decided, they are determined to push through for the accessibility ng ating mga sidewalks. Specifically po, para makalabas din ang mga taong may kapansanan,” she said.

(When we talked to Secretary Vince and Secretary Banoy, they’re decided, they are determined to push through for the accessibility of our sidewalks. Specifically, so people with disabilities like us can go out, too.)

“Mukhang maraming low-hanging fruits na pwedeng maayos po ng ating sidewalk. 'Yung mismong kongkreto po na pagkakaintindi po namin is lalaparan na po [ang mga daanan], and they will find ways really to put on the accessibility na naaayon sa ating batas pambansa,” she added.

(It seems there are a lot of low-hanging fruits that can be fixed when it comes to our sidewalks. It is our concrete understanding that they will widen the [pathways], and they will find ways really to put on the accessibility according to our country’s laws.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News