Tourism “must include” PWDs

CEBU, Philippines – Being a place that is friendly to people with disabilities can boost tourism.

This is the advocacy of the “Barrier Free Environment and Tourism” that is being initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The group held a conference yesterday at the NEDA 7 office on establishing a barrier-free environment and its impact on tourism.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an estimated 7.5 million Filipinos with disabilities in the year 2000, which reached 8.3 million 2004. Statistics from the WHO also states that 10 percent of every country’s population has some form of disability.

Adela Avila Kono, main speaker at the conference, has been with the advocacy for the past 22 years. She is an official from the Regional Council for Disability Affairs 7.

“Importante kini siya because it’s like building up an environment in such a way na ang atong palibot walay sabod. Kita tanan, ma bata ta matiguwang, masakit, at different life stages of our existence, magkinahanglan jud ta social infrastructure na di ta maglisud,” Kono said.

She added that they have experienced turning down PWDs from abroad who were interested in visiting the Philippines. Ten persons on wheelchairs who wanted to come to Cebu changed their minds after learning that there are no disabled-friendly hotels where they could stay.

Another was a PWD from UK who inquired from DSWD 7 about PWD-friendly places to stay in Cebu and was informed that there was none. Kono said that they always find it hard to find a hotel to stay in for training and workshops, seminars and conventions.

According to Kono, the Accessibility Law (BP 344) was signed into law 27 years ago by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in February 1983 and yet, most of its provisions are not enforced.

The group says the government must demonstrate political will, commit to enforce laws, and initiate immediate action that will remove the barriers that limit persons with mobility impairments.

They also recommended the implementation and monitoring to ensure that penalties are meted out to violators.

It is not just the PWDs who could benefit from a barrier-free environment, she said. The elderly, retirees, travelers with mobility impairments, women and children will also benefit from it as everyone needs accessibility.

It is not anymore a welfare issue but a social development issue, she stressed.

Jovencio “Nonoy” Concha III, a disability specialist from the Population Commission 7, said that what they are doing is part of the campaign to protect human rights.

Concha cited examples of places wherein PWDs find it hard to access like school buildings that only have stairs and no ramps.

Benjamin Baruc, DSWD 7 officer, said that they always inform people that PWDs must be given access to the different establishments.

Kono cited incidents in establishments that are not PWD-friendly, such as some falling inside the comfort room while transferring from their wheel chair to the toilet bowl. (FREEMAN)