TAXI DRIVERS in the city are being tagged as snub especially to visually impaired individuals, according to Federation of Visually Impaired-Baguio City president Valentin Manginga.
u201cNaranasan ng ibang kasama namin na nagtaxi sila pero hindi sila hinatid sa destinasyon nila. Ang ginawa nung taxi nag turn daw tas ibinaba na lang sila sa gilid ng daan,” Valentin Manginga told SunStar Baguio.
u201cMayroon din yung kukuha ka ng taxi tapos hindi ka nila tatanggapin kasi wala daw silang back load. Kumbaga refusal to convey passenger kasi karamihan sa mga kasamahan natin sa federation ay umuuwi sa may bandang Irisan,” Manginga narrated.
According to Manginga, some taxi drivers are kind enough to accept visually impaired passengers but most drivers refuse to accept them.
u201cMayroon din kaming mga complaints sa grupo namin na nagbayad sila nang P1,000 hindi nila binabaryahan ng tama o kaya naman ay wala na talagang barya,” Manginga stated.
Manginga appealed to taxi drivers to accept persons with disabilities especially those who are visually impaired and take them to their destination.
u201cHindi naman kasi kami makapagcomplain sa DOTC kasi sino ang icocomplain namin. Hindi naman namin nakita yung mukha ng driver kahit yung body number o plate number ng taxi. Kaya sana maging honest at considerate din yung mga drivers natin,” Manginga said.
Manginga on the other hand said they are availing the five percent discount on restaurants and various establishments but a lot of buildings in the city do not comply with accessibility law.
u201cIyong sa accessibility law ay kulang na kulang ang pagpapatupad dito sa city. Halimbawa ramps for wheelchairs, wala. DOH alone wala where can you see a ramp papunta dito. Ang accessibility law kasama sa building code natin yan ang sinasabi ng batas kaya sana icomply natin,” Manginga narrated.
Moreover, the provision on right for employment that five percent of the labor force must come from the PWD is not being followed according to Manginga.
u201cSa labor hindi na namin inaasahan yan, buti na lang ang World Food Program ay nag provide ng mga massage equipment. Ang DSWD may regular skills training kaya yun ang livelihood namin,” Manginga said.
