THE EXPERIENCE of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Western Visayas, as reported by this paper yesterday, exposes a painful reality: the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons remains stronger on paper than in practice.
The region is home to hundreds if not thousands of PWDs, yet many still struggle to enter buildings, find decent employment, access government services, or simply move around safely in their own communities. This is despite a law that has been in place for more than three decades guaranteeing equal opportunities and protecting their rights.
The observations raised by Della Leonor, regional coordinator for PWDs under the National Anti-Poverty Commission, are a call to every local government unit, business establishment, and government agency in Western Visayas. Accessibility remains incomplete. Many establishments still think that installing a single ramp or providing one accessible comfort room is enough. Others have yet to provide even these basic facilities. Meanwhile, designated parking spaces for PWDs continue to be abused by motorists who have no business occupying them.
These may appear to be isolated inconveniences, but together they reveal a culture that still treats PWD accessibility as optional instead of recognizing it as a fundamental human right.
Equally disconcerting is the continuing discrimination in employment. Across Western Visayas, according to Leonor, many qualified PWDs remain unemployed or underemployed because employers continue to judge applicants based on their disabilities rather than their abilities. Some are forced to seek online work not because it is their preferred career path but because physical barriers and inaccessible workplaces leave them with few alternatives.
This should not be happening in a region that prides itself on being progressive and people-centered. Iloilo City aspires to become one of the country’s most livable cities. Bacolod promotes itself as a center of opportunity. Provinces across Western Visayas continue to invest in infrastructure and tourism. Yet development loses much of its meaning if a significant sector of society cannot fully participate in it.
The responsibility rests heavily on local government units. Every city, municipality, and barangay should conduct comprehensive accessibility audits of public buildings, markets, transport terminals, sidewalks, parks, schools, hospitals, and government offices. Persons with Disability Affairs Offices should not merely process identification cards and benefits; they should become active watchdogs ensuring compliance with accessibility standards and recommending improvements before complaints even arise.
The private sector also has a big part. Hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, banks, offices, and commercial establishments should move beyond minimum legal compliance. Universal design benefits not only PWDs but also senior citizens, pregnant women, parents pushing strollers, and even individuals temporarily recovering from injuries.
Perhaps the greatest barrier, however, is not physical but attitudinal. As long as society continues to see disability as a limitation rather than recognizing the talents, skills, and contributions of PWDs, genuine inclusion will remain elusive. Every time a reserved parking slot is occupied by someone without a disability, every time a sidewalk becomes impassable because of illegal parking or obstructions, and every time a qualified applicant is denied employment because of prejudice, society itself becomes the barrier.
Western Visayas has always been known for its compassion and strong sense of community. The region must demonstrate those values not merely through words but through action so that every citizen — including those living with disabilities — can enjoy equal access to opportunities, services, and public spaces.
The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons has already shown the way. What Western Visayas needs now is stronger enforcement, greater accountability, and a collective commitment to ensure that inclusion is practiced every day — not merely celebrated during awareness campaigns.
