ILOILO CITY (PIA) - The Department of Public Works and Highways is bent on finding out if government buildings and structures around the country are complying with the provisions of the Accessibility Law.
Secretary Rogelio Singson has recently directed all DPWH Regional Directors to conduct a comprehensive "accessibility audit" of all government buildings and structures in their areas of responsibilities.
In his memorandum dated July 12, 2010, Singson said the accessibility audit aims to determine whether these government structures are compliant with the provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 entitled, "An Act to Enhance Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments, Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices."
Singson also directed the regional directors to submit a report containing the following - the number and location of government-owned buildings/structures inspected; list of government-owned buildings/structures which are found compliant with BP 344, indicating facilities installed therein and services provided; and list of government buildings/structures which are found not compliant with BP 344 and recommendations regarding accessibility facilities needed to be installed/constructed with corresponding estimates.
In Western Visayas, the DPWH regional office, which chairs the Sub-Committee on Accessibility of the Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) 6 has started to conduct an access audit not only of government buildings but also of private establishments in Iloilo City recently.
The access audit was participated in by the different focal persons for persons-with-disabilities (PWDs) of the DPWH's regional district offices, representatives of concerned non-government organizations (NGOs) and member agencies of the RCDA, associations of architects, and the media.
This was conducted in some 20 establishments which included buildings housing the Government Service Insurance System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Office of Persons with Disabilities Affairs in Iloilo City.
The one-day access audit was part of the 32nd "National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week" celebration in the region from July 17 to 23. The DPWH has been tasked to lead this year's NDPR week celebration in the country, with the theme "Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able."
DPWH 6 Focal Person for Disabled-Persons Architect Alberto Saclauso said the access audit will continue after the member-agencies of the Sub-Committee on Accessibility meet again to discuss the schedule.
