MANY government offices are still unmindful of people with disabilities (PWD), an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
DPWH-Cordillera Administrative Region administrative officer Francis Almora, who led the multi-agency team that inspected selected government agencies for accessibility compliance, said many are still remiss.
The DPWH is the lead agency in checking agencies' compliance to the Batas Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law, which mandates all buildings to create ramps for access of persons with disabilities.
Almora said they have recommended compliance based on their observations to some agencies, which still do not have access ramps.
However, he said some government offices have problem in complying with the regulation as they are leasing spaces. Old buildings are under the building inspectors of the local government units, which have been lax in the past years in implementing accessibility laws.
Almora also said they already have reminders to the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and United Architects of the Philippines to start designing PWD-friendly buildings. (JM Agreda)