ILOILO — Only about half of Iloilo Province’s 42 municipalities and the component city of Passi can currently be considered truly Persons with Disabilities (PWD)-friendly, exposing continuing gaps in accessibility, enforcement of mandatory discounts, and local government support despite national laws protecting the rights of PWDs.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) said while many local government units (LGUs) have improved access to services and facilities for PWDs, numerous municipalities still lag behind because disability programs remain a low priority or receive insufficient funding.
Iloilo Province is marking the 48th National Disability Rights (NDR) Week beginning today, July 17.
“Out of 42 municipalities plus Passi City, mga half ang PWD-friendly. Ang iban indi pa gid nila priority. Siguro kon indi man priority, gamay ang pundo nga ginahatag sa PWDs,” said Ma. Christine Roa, PSWDO Development Management Officer II and designated Persons with Disability Affairs Officer (PDAO), in an interview with Panay News.
According to Roa, PWD-friendly municipalities are those that consistently implement the following:
* mandatory 20-percent discounts on medicines, groceries and transportation
* employ qualified PWDs in government and private establishments, and
* provide essential accessibility features such as ramps, designated parking spaces, accessible comfort rooms, and elevators in buildings with three or more storeys
Roa noted, however, that the remaining municipalities are making efforts to improve through the provincial government’s annual Search for the Most PWD-Friendly Municipality.
Based on reports submitted by Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs) across the province, one of the most common complaints from PWDs is the refusal of some small pharmacies and grocery stores to grant the legally mandated 20-percent discount, citing limited business capital.
“Indi pa tanan nagahatag sang discount. May mga banwa nga nagareklamo kay ti ang rason nila gamay lang man ila pharmacy or gamay lang man ila stores,” Roa said.
To address the issue, she urged LGUs to pass municipal ordinances requiring all business establishments to comply with the mandatory discount.
Roa explained that while the benefit is already protected under national law, local ordinances would strengthen enforcement at the municipal level.
“Amo na gani nga gina-include namon sa Search for the Most PWD Friendly Municipalities nga dapat may ara sila municipal ordinance dictating nga ang mga ini nga department stores or mga mini-grocery mahatag gid sang discount kay in exchange of that, may less sanda sa ila nga tax,” she added.
PWDs denied the mandatory discount sare encouraged to file complaints with their local PDAO, which can elevate the matter to the Sangguniang Bayan committee on social services for appropriate legislative action.
Roa also raised concern over improperly constructed accessibility ramps in some government offices and establishments, saying several do not comply with national standards and could endanger wheelchair users.
“Ang iban nga banwa indi pa gid compliant sa aton facilities like ang mga ramp indi sia specified nga pagtukod. May standard na sia, indi dapat tama ka taas or stiff kay karon madaus-dos or indi kasaka ang wheelchair,” she said.
Despite the shortcomings, Roa said she remains optimistic as most municipalities continue improving their accessibility programs by benchmarking best practices from previous winners of the provincial Search for the Most PWD-Friendly Municipality.
She stressed that making municipalities more inclusive benefits both PWDs and local communities by encouraging greater participation in government programs while improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
The province currently has more than 34,000 registered PWDs, with the number expected to increase as registration continues in all 43 local government units./PN
