RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hats afl 2uly
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2224
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. MA. LOURDES T. ARROYO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure seeks to institutionalize Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) —
friendly and safe transportation program.

Based on the 2010 census of population of Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA), about 16 per thousand of the country’s population had disability. Of the 92.1
million households in the country, 1.4 million or 1.57 percent had some forms of
disability.

Despite allocation of designated seats for PWDs in public utility vehicles
(PUVs), they can hardly get inside for the reason that PUVs are not designed to be
accessible for PWDs

The Department of Transportation created the Task Force on Accessibility
under Special Order No. 2007-77 pursuant to its continuing commitments for the
PWDs sector in the country as well as to provide efficient, secured and accessible
transportation compliant with international standards and perfectly design for
everyone.

In 2016, the government launched the first Philippines’ PWD-friendly public
buses under its point-to-point (P2P) bus service fleet as part of its Public Utility
Modernization Program. The buses have a floor specification that would meet the
needs of PWD passengers such as low floor height and features hydraulic system
allowing to tilt toward the pavement and features a retractable boarding and alighting
ramp.

Marikina City is the first LGU to introduce the Adaptive Mobile Vehicle
(AMY) specifically designed to PWDs and Senior Citizens who are travelling around
the city.

Earlier in 2019, a group of PWDs in coordination with a youth-led
organization Project SMILE initiated a campaign pushing for the first-ever PWD-
tricycle in the country primarily targeting wheelchair users. For just Php 100



donation, PWD can have better mobility and may also own said tricycle as source of
their livelihood.

This proposed measure shows our primordial concern to the safety and
protection of our PWDs as they are often neglected and discriminated. It is indeed
high time to level up our system of transportation that would cater to the special needs
of our PWDs.

Institutionalizing this kind of transportation program for our PWDs will
provide them safe and convenience in commuting going to their intended destinations
as well as to improve their accessibility to public transportation.

Given said premises, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Pg Loko 7 Gauys
MA. LOURDES T. ARROYO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2224
HOUSE BILL NO,

Introduced by HON. MA. LOURDES T. ARROYO

AN ACT
TO INSTITUTE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs) -FRIENDLY AND SAFE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “PWD-friendly and Safe
‘Transportation Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is the policy of the State to promote the rights of
every individual, access to economic opportunities considering their conditions and needs.

SEC. 3. Institution of PWD-friendly and safe transportation progam - Pursuant to the
aforementioned State policy, there shall be the institution of a transportation and mobility
program for persons with disabilities (PWDs) under the Department of Transportation
(DOTH).

SEC. 4. Modernization of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs). — A\l PUV operators and
‘owners are hereby required to upgrade their PUVs accessible to all PWDs by providing
passenger boarding ramps or lifts, spaces for wheelchair and other safety accessories
including but not limited to seatbelts, clamps and grab bars.

SEC. 5. Designated pick-up points — A portion of the roadway or highway shall be
designated as pick-up points for PWDs as determined by the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH).

SEC. 6, Implementation and Monitoring.-_ ‘The Department of Transportation shall
be the main implementing agency for this Act. DOTr in coordination with the Land
Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and National Council on Disabillity
Affairs (NCDA) shall likewise monitor the implementation of this program.


SEC. 7. Penalty Clause. — Public utility vehicle operators who remiss to implement the
said Act shall be punsihed with a fine not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php200,000.00) but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhpS00,000.00)

SEC. 8, Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of the Department
of Transportation shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the budget of the Department of Transporation under the General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10, Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, othe provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in
full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. ~ Any laws, decrees, or rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,