Public asked to observe PWD rights

By Geraldine G. Dumallig

Tuesday 31st of July 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, July 31 (PIA) -– Government and private facilities offering services to the public are asked to accord persons with disability (PWD) their rights and privileges under the law.

This is the appeal of PWD service providers advocating for the strict observation of the principles of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

In a statement, Isabel Sy-Nillas, Social Welfare assistant regional director said that the Magna Carta for PWDs provides that like everyone else, PWDS have rights and a place in society where they could live freely and independently as possible. The attainment of this must be the concern of all sectors.

She said that the public must be aware and sensitive of the PWD needs like ensuring a barrier-free environment by complying with the Accessibility Law.

Ensuring a barrier-free environment, she said, could be observed even in small ways like provision of assistive devices such as wheel chairs, canes, and crutches readily available in government offices, hotels, large stores, and other institutions offering public services.

Public buildings, she said, must also have access ramps constructed based on the standard so as not to add more injury to the PWD.

Comfort rooms made especially for PWDs must also be provided while personal assistance should also be offered for those with impaired hearing and sight to facilitate the delivery of services to them.

“These are usually ignored by those having normal body functions,” she said urging the need to advocate sensitivity in the community to understand the PWD sector better.

The Magna Carta provides that to realize the integration of the PWDs into mainstream society, the partnership of the public and private sector is encouraged in addressing the needs and concerns of the PWDs, she said.

It also advocates the removal of all social, cultural, economic, environmental and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to disabled persons, she added.

Kalinga Social Welfare and Development Officer Digna Dalutag, on the other hand, encouraged PWDs to strengthen their provincial federation and organize their municipal federations to make a bigger voice in the society and in local government units.

The province recently culminated the celebration of the 34th National Disability Rehabilitation and Prevention Week last July 25 to 26 with the theme, “Mainstreaming Person with Disabilities in Economic Development.” (JDP/GGD-PIA CAR, Kalinga)