4 days ago
Marcos wants PWDs to have safe access to transportation
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that persons with disabilities have safe access to public transport.
''Ang instruction nga ng Pangulo tulad ng nasabi ko kanina, siguraduhin na may safe na public transport at accessible na public transport para sa ating mga kababayan na may kapansanan,'' DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a Palace press briefing.
(The President gave an instruction for the DSWD to ensure safe and accessible public transport for PWDs.)
Gatchalian earlier inspected three electric buses intended for persons with disabilities at the DSWD Central Office.
The provision of electric vehicles is under the DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program's (SLP) Persons with Disabilities – Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) Project.
The PWD-ETS is a pilot project that aims to provide livelihood grants to persons with disabilities in SLPAs to purchase electric vehicles that are disability-friendly.
The said project will enable the beneficiaries to earn income while helping other persons with disabilities to safely access modes of transportation. Each SLPA is composed of 115 members who are all persons with disabilities from 10 local government units in Metro Manila.
Gatchalian said the DSWD would work with the Department of Transportation to scale up this measure.
''The goal talaga is palawakin, palawigin, paramihin not just in Metro Manila but also in the other Metro areas para mas magkaroon ng accessible at safe na space para sa ating mga people with disability,'' he said.
(The goal is to widen and extend this not just in Metro Manila but also in the other metro areas to provide accessible and safe space for PWDs.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
