Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES, STANDARDS, 
SPECIFICATIONS, AND POLICIES FOR THE CREATION OF BARRIER-FREE 
ENVIRONMENTS TO ENHANCE THE DIGNITY, INDEPENDENCE, MOBILITY, 
SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Universal Accessibility Act of 2023, as suggested, aims to BP 344, a law enacted in 
the 1980s required the installation of facilities in certain buildings, institutions, 
establishments, and public utilities to improve the mobility of disabled people. 
Unfortunately, several provisions and specifications in BP 344's Implementing Rules and 
Regulations are no longer adequate to meet the needs of the various categories of people 
with disabilities. Furthermore, there are new types of businesses that are not covered by 
BP 344 since the requirements are based on American standards and are not suitable for 
Asian statutes in terms of heights and altitudes. 
Many medical discoveries have contributed in the extension of the life span of Filipinos 
and people in general, and as a result, more and more individuals will be anticipated to 
live to a ripe old age but with the assistance of mobility equipment. However, mobility 
gadgets will not get us very far--nor will our families--unless we have the freedom of 
movement given by accessible and barrier-free surroundings everywhere in the world. 
The constructed environment. If we want to maintain as much of the same quality of life 
as we did when we were more capable, we must properly develop and create accessible 
surroundings now. 
To be sure, the Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, the Accessibility Act, and its implementation 
Implementing Rules and Regulations are no longer sufficient in creating barrier-free 
settings with architectural or structural elements tailored to the requirements of people 
with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly. 
There is an urgent need to update existing accessibility legislation and policy frameworks 
in order to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities, the aged, and those 
with special needs, as well as to address concerns related to their mobility, independence, 
safety, and convenience. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
June 5, 2023
8:00 am
8518


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING THE UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINICIPLES, STANDARDS, 
SPECIFICATIONS, AND POLICIES FOR THE CREATION OF BARRIER-FREE 
ENVIRONMENTS TO ENHANCE THE DIGNITY, INDEPENDENCE, 
MOBILITY, SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF PERSONS WITH SPECIAL 
NEEDS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in  
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and referred to as the 
"Universal Accessibility Act of 2023". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to promote the full inclusion, participation, and non-discrimination of all persons, 
especially persons with disabilities, in various aspects and processes of society. 
It is further declared that the State shall endeavor to apply and mainstream 
Universal Design principles, standards, and policies to ensure and enhance the 
dignity, independence, mobility, safety, and convenience of persons with apparent 
or non-apparent disabilities, senior citizens, women, children, and other sectors, 
thereby creating in the process an environment conducive to accessible, barrier- 
free and inclusive tourism. 
SEC. 3. Definition Of Terms. - 
1. ACCESSIBLE. It refers to an independent approach, entry, evacuation
and/or use of a building and its services and facilities, by all of the
building's potential users with an assurance of individual health,
safety and welfare during the course of those activities.
Accessibility is a precondition for persons with disabilities to live
independently and participate fully and equally in society.
2. BARRIER-FREE. It refers to a design for those with physical or other
disabilities, involving the provision of alternative means of access to
steps such as ramps and elevators for those with mobility problems.
It is also a design or plan so that people with disabilities are not
prevented from using and accessing establishments.
7216
3. BARRIER-FREE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM. It refers to an
ongoing endeavor to ensure tourist destinations, products and
services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical
limitations, disabilities or age. It enables people with access
requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive
dimensions of access, to function independently and with equity
and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism
products, services and environments. This definition is inclusive of
all people including those travelling with children in prams,
people with disabilities and seniors. This is used interchangeably
with "Accessible Tourism", "Inclusive Tourism", "Adapted
Tourism", "Tourism for All", "Easy Access Tourism", and
8518


 
"Universal Tourism." 
4. CATEGORIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. It refers to the 
categories of disability dictate the varied measures to be adopted to 
create an accessible environment for persons with disabilities, who may 
be classified into those who have: 
a. Impairments requiring confinement to wheelchairs; or 
b. Impairments causing difficulty or insecurity in walking or climbing 
stairs or requiring the use of braces, crutches or other artificial 
supports; or impairments caused by amputation, arthritis, spastic 
conditions or pulmonary, cardiac or other ills rendering individuals 
semi-ambulatory; or 
c. Total or partial impairments of hearing or sight causing insecurity or 
likelihood of exposure to danger in public places; or 
d. Impairments due to conditions of aging and incoordination; and may 
not be immediately apparent; and 
e. Mental impairments whether acquired or congenital in nature. 
5. ERGONOMIC. It refers to an applied science concerned with designing 
and arranging things people use so that people and things interact most 
efficiently and safely. 
6. UNIVERSAL DESIGN. It refers to a design process that enables and 
empowers a diverse population by improving human performance, 
health and wellness, and social participation for the purpose of 
creating products, systems, and environments to be as usable as 
possible by people regardless of age, ability or situation. It is 
governed by seven (7) principles, namely: 
a. Equitable Use 
b. Flexibility in Use 
c. Simple and Intuitive Use 
d. Perceptible Information 
e. Tolerance for Error 
f. Low Physical Effort 
g. Size and Space for Approach and Use 
 
SEC. 4. Scope And Application. - The Universal Design principles, 
standards, specifications and policies mandated under this Act shall apply to the 
following: 
1. Public and private buildings and related structures for or open to 
public use or the general public, irrespective of type, use, and 
purpose, including all government buildings, whether owned or 
leased by the government, and public facilities such as roads, curb 
ramps, sidewalks, pedestrian bridges; 
2. Places of accommodation and retirement homes; 
3. Public housing projects, which shall be required to be readily 
convertible for compliance specifically for toilets, lavatories, and 
showers; 
4. Passenger transportation & travel facilities; 
5. Tourism sites and facilities; 
6. Private buildings with certain portions open to the public including 
condominium units, which shall be required to be have its facilities be 
readily convertible for compliance specifically toilets, lavatories and 
showers; and 
7. Building and related structures to be repaired or renovated including 
those proposed for a change of occupancy. 
 
SEC. 5. Exemptions Compliance. - As a general rule, no permit for the 
construction, repair or renovation of public and private buildings and related 
structures for public use, whether owned or leased, shall be granted or issued, 
unless the owner thereof shall have provided the universal barrier-free facilities 
and 
accessibility features. 
However, for reasons of safety, risk and health, the provisions of this Law shall 
not apply to the following, provided it is certified by the Building Official or the 


 
Structural Engineer of the Office of the Building Official: 
1. Construction sites and related structures; 
2. Repair or renovation work which consists only of heating, ventilating 
and air conditioning systems, including those which may be required 
only with respect to fire panic and explosion safety for existing 
spaces; 
3. Areas used for purposes of life safety, fire safety, including but not 
limited to observation of lookout galleries, prison guard towers, fire 
towers or lifeguard stands, and loading docks; 
4. Equipment rooms and machinery spaces in plants and factories; 
5. When the capacity or strength of any major structural component, 
such as slabs, beams, girders, columns, bearing walls and footing of 
the building or structure will be diminished during a renovation; 
6. Where the requirements for accessibility in the Rules will create an 
unreasonable hardship in design or construction; and 
7. When there is a legal constraint which would not allow compliance 
with these regulations. 
 
SEC. 6. Education and Awareness Raising on Universal Design 
Standards of Accessibility. - All public and private colleges and universities 
offering and teaching interior design, architecture, civil engineering and related 
courses shall include in its curriculum a subject on universal accessibility laws. 
The 
Commission on Higher Education shall issue rules and regulations to ensure that 
this Act shall be properly taught in colleges and universities aforementioned. 
Within a period of one (1) year from effectivity of this Act, the Department on 
Public Works and Highways shall conduct fora, symposia, seminars, and other 
awareness-raising activities to government agencies, local government units, non- 
government organizations, contractors, architects, engineers, and other 
stakeholders on the pertinent provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Incentives. How Availed. - 
1. Tax credits shall be used to offset national or local business taxes 
to private establishments that have implemented and complied with 
the renovations and with the universal standard. 
2. Certifications issued by the Office of the Building Official together 
with an accredited non-government organization or person 
engaged in PWD accessibility advocacy that the establishment has 
undertaken repairs and renovations and has fully complied with 
the universal standards and specification under this law. 
 
SEC. 8. Implementation and Monitoring. - This Act shall be 
implemented by the following government agencies: 
1. The Department of Public Works and Highways shall be 
responsible for the compliance of all national roads and highways, 
pedestrian bridges or overpasses, curb ramps, ramps and 
handrails, crossings and their inter- connectivity. It shall ensure 
that all the aforementioned facilities, pending and upcoming, 
shall be fully compliant with this Act. 
2. The Office of the Building Official in all local government units 
shall be 
responsible in ensuring that all establishments within its territorial 
jurisdiction shall comply with the universal design and standards 
mandated in this Act. 
3. The Department of Tourism shall implement and monitor the 
compliance of all tourism and tourism-related enterprises with the 
universal designs and standards and barrier-free tourism policies 
under this Act. Compliance with this Act shall be a requirement for 
accreditation or renewal of such accreditation to operate as a tourism 
enterprise/facility. 
4. The Department of Transportation and its component agencies shall 
implement and monitor compliance of the universal standards and 


 
design for the transportation sector. 
5. The National Council on Disability Affairs shall monitor the 
implementation of universal design in coordination with the 
responsible government agencies. 
 
SEC. 9. Persons or Individuals Liable for Any Violation of this 
Act. - 
1. For Buildings/Establishment/Structure: 
a. Owner or Operator of the Building, Establishment or Structure 
b. Contractor 
c. Architect 
d. 
Engineer 
e. 
Building 
Official 
or 
Other 
Public 
Official 
in-charge 
with 
the 
issuance 
of 
building 
permit, 
registration, 
certification 
and/or 
inspection 
of 
the 
building, 
establishment 
or 
structure 
2. 
For 
Air, 
Land 
and 
Sea 
Transportation: 
a. 
Owner/Operator 
of 
Public 
Transportation 
b. 
Body 
builders 
c. 
Safety 
Officers/Engineering/Managers 
d. 
Drivers/Conductors/Conductresses 
e. 
Public 
Official 
in-charge 
with 
the 
issuance 
of 
permits, 
registration, 
certification 
and 
inspection 
of 
the 
public 
transportation 
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be found 
unconstitutional by a court of law, such provisions shall be severed from the 
remainder of the Act, and such action shall not affect the enforceability of the 
remaining provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - This Act shall repeal Batas Pambansa 344, An 
Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, 
Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices is 
hereby repealed. 
 
All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This act shall take effect within 15 days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,