What makes an infrastructure facility PWD-friendly? Let’s look into BP 344

The MSGC members of the Tala Hospital meet with the representatives from the JSLA Architects to explore potential areas of collaboration for the advancement of disability inclusion. (Photo by: PIA-NCR)

by: Janna Pineda

Did you know that there is a law in the Philippines which caters to the rights of differently-abled persons to fully access buildings, streets, highways, and other structural facilities without a difficulty in their mobility?

This law is called the Batas Pambansa 344, otherwise known as the “Accessibility Law,” whose main purpose is to create an equally sufficient, suitable, and safe space for the use of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in order for them to inclusively participate in the social life and the overall development of the country.

Be it public or privately-owned buildings, no structure is exempted from abiding by the accessibility law. Even parking spaces, pedestrian lanes, and public transport vehicles, as well as terminals are required to integrate a barrier-free and accessibility feature.

However, it can be observed that most existing structures are yet to meet the condition for comfortable or PWD-friendly use. Some pedestrian bridges cannot be traversed by people moving in wheelchairs without the risk of falling or are too high to be used by PWDs, elderly, and pregnant women.

Meanwhile, some PWD ramps, even though readily provided, are too steep or not equipped with handrails and resting platforms which can pose a significant risk for the mobility impaired.

Overcoming the obstacle towards a barrier-free future

To slowly overcome this accessibility challenge, the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (DJNRMHS, also known as the Tala Hospital)) is making a headway towards advocating for the incorporation of disability inclusion in the structures and features of the government medical facility.

“Nakita namin yung limitations ng mga PWD sa mga different structures both public and private, na dapat kasi mayroong modelo na organization na iha-highlight itong mga ito para kahit papaano, magkaroon ng realization ang tao na itong mga basic structures na ito ay available para sa PWD community,” DJNRMHS Chief Nurse Samuel Sumilang explained.

(We saw the limitations of the PWD in different structures both public and private, whereas there should be a model organization that will highlight these, so that people will have a better realization of how we can make basic structures be available for the PWD community.)

“We want to be, as a public institution, na maging model dahil we are gearing towards highlighting those mandates concerning PWDs,” he added.

(We want, as a public institution, to become a model because we are gearing towards highlighting those mandates concerning PWDs.)

In a benchmarking activity with a private architectural firm, JSLA Architects, the DJNRMHS is targeting to conduct an accessibility audit of its facilities to ensure compliance with the standards of accessibility pursuant to BP 344.

PRI Medical Center (left) and Pagamutan ng Dasmariñas (right). (Photo Courtesy: JSLA Architects)

Once this strategic collaboration is formalized, it can potentially pave the way for a public-private partnership that will aid in the advancement of PWD rights.

A continuing advocacy

The Tala Hospital and the LERC have long been partners in facilitating the improvement of the lives of vulnerable groups, particularly PWDs.

Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the Tala Hospital helped build a coffee shop that is completely managed by the PWD community from the LERC.

It is called Green Kapé which can be found inside the Tala Hospital, fulfilling the goal of enabling the differently-abled. LERC also once became a beneficiary of the JSLA Architects in which they received training on how to better market their local products using social media.

Coffee shop run and managed by PWDs in Tala Hospital. (Photo by: PIA-NCR)

This collaborative initiative to champion the cause of PWDs in terms of opportunity and mobility not only advances disability inclusion but also stronger social cohesion.

It also serves as a major step forward in the aspect of encouraging medical facilities and other private and public utilities to replicate the integration of barrier-free and accessibility features to establish universal accessibility. (JMP/PIA-NCR)