BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) urged the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to strictly implement laws for more enabling facilities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens in public and private establishments in this city.
In a resolution, the SP requested the OBO to enforce City Ordinance (CO) No. 08-16-774, or “The Accessibility Ordinance for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens.”
Councilor Simplicia Distrito said it has been observed that there are many buildings and establishments within the city that are not compliant with the laws.
“There were also complaints from our senior citizens and PWD groups about the lack of facilities that can enhance their mobility and access,” Distrito added.
The ordinance, passed on Wednesday, seeks to operationalize Batas Pambansa No. 344, or “An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments, and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices.”
CO 08-16-774 requires that any owner, operator, or administrator of buildings or public utilities involving educational institutions, airports, sports and recreational centers or complexes, shopping centers or malls, public parking spaces, hospitals, workplaces, and terminals shall be responsible for installing and maintaining architectural facilities or structural features that will enhance the mobility of PWDs or senior citizens.
The local measure also mandates that no Business or Mayor’s Permit or the renewal thereof shall be issued by the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) without complying with the requirement of providing such facilities in their establishments after an inspection has been made by the OBO.
Singcang-Airport punong barangay Caesar Distrito, spokesperson for Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, said the local chief executive is supportive of the measure.
“This ordinance is already a law, and there is no other recourse but to implement it,” he emphasized. “He (Benitez) will call the attention of OBO and BPLO to make sure that in every structural plan of every building in the city, the requirement set forth in CO No. 08-16-774 be incorporated.”/PN
