Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5721

Introduced by Hon. Tricia Nicole Q. Velasco - Catera

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate the incorporation of tactile Paving into all highways, roads,
afrastea egal, sidewalks, rail platforms, pedestrian crossings, as well as public spaces and
infrastructure, whenever practicable, to enhance the safety and independent mobility of the
blind and visually impaired.

Tactile paving is a system of textured ground surface indicators on roads, footpaths, stairs and
train station platforms, public spaces and other infrastructure that serves to alent bint and
visually impaired persons to, among others, approaching pedestrian crossings, hazards,
obstructions, and grade changes.

Notably, based on observations from countries that have already adopted the technology, tactile
Paving is also used as a way for people to line themselves up at pedestrian crossings. Therefore,
this will also enhance the safety of other pedestrians,


The passage of this bill will surel

'y contribute significantly to the goal of making blind and
visually impaired persons self-relia

int. Thus, passage thereof is earnestly sought.

TRICIA nygbux VELASCO - CATERA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17'") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5721

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Tricia Nicole Q. Velasco - Catera

AN ACT MANDATING THE USE OF TACTILE PAVING IN ALL PUBLIC
SPACES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF BLIND AND
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SEC. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Tactile Paving Act of 2017”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide full
support to the improvement of the total well-being of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and
their full integration into mainstream society. To this end, the State shall establish, promote, and
implement the following policies for the benefit of blind and visually impaired persons.

(@) To incorporate tactile paving as a central part of national public
infrastructure system specifications;

(b) To provide the blind and visually impaired with dependable mobility
aids; and

(©) Toenhance road safety for all pedestrians and motorists in general.

SEC. 3. Tactile Paving. ~ Tactile Paving is a system of textured ground surface indicators
found on public highways, streets, footpaths, stairs, railway platforms, as well as other public
Spaces and infrastructure, that alerts blind and visually impaired persons to the presence of
Pedestrian crossings, hazards, obstructions, or grade changes, enabling them to travel safely
while maximizing their capabilities for independent mobility.

There are various types of tactile patterns that convey different information about the
environment such as, but not limited to, the following:

(@) Blister surface - to guide visually impaired persons through pedestrian crossings.


(©) Offset blister tactile - to warn visually impaired persons of the edge of off-street
railway platforms.

(©) Lozenge tactile- to war visually impaired persons that they are approaching the
edge of an on-street railway platform or bus stop.

(2) Corduroy hazard warning tactile - to warn visually impaired persons of the
Presence of specific hazards, such as steps, level crossings or approaches to on.
Street railway platforms, bus stops, or where footways join shared routes,

(©) Cycle way tactile - to advise visually impaired persons of the correct side to enter

in junction with a ted shared cycle track/ footway.
conju segregal x

(Directional or guidance tactile - to guide visually impaired persons along a route
when the traditional cues, such as a property lines or kerb edges, are not
available.

PEC 4: Mandatory incorporation of tactile paving in all public spaces and infrastructure. ~ All
Public highways, roads, pavements, footways, footpaths, stairs, footbridges, sidewalks, rail
Platforms, bus stops, pedestrian crossings, and all other public spaces and infrastructure shall

incotPorate tactile paving according to specifications in the Implementing Rules and Guidelines

The DOTr and DPWH shall conduct earnest efforts to reconstruct or retrofit existing
Public spaces and infrastructure to incorporate tactile paving.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Guidelines, - The DOT: and DPWH shall jointly
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Guidelines upon consultation with the Landi
Transportation Office (LTO), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Department
Pr imterior Local Government (DILG), and notable organizations promoting the well of the
blind and visually impaired. The Rules and Guidelines shall make tactile paving a central part
of national public infrastructure system specifications.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may be
Becessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be subsequently declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity or the legality of the other
Provisions not so declared.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
reBulations, other issuances, and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act, are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.


SEC. 9. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after publication in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,