Buildings urged to comply with accessibility law

THE CITY Council approved a resolution encouraging all government offices, agencies and private individuals and groups with buildings located in the different parts of the city to strictly comply with the pertinent provisions of Batas Pambansa (BP) 344 otherwise known as the Accessibility Law.

This is to help enhance the mobility of persons with disabilities by requiring certain structures to install facilities and other devices necessary for the purpose.

Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr in his proposed measure said it is important for the local government to start the compliance of its existing structures to the Accessibility Law, thus, concerned offices have been given a 2year period to ensure that all city-owned buildings are compliant to the accessibility provisions enshrined in existing laws, rules and regulations.

Further, the resolution noted that the Philippines is a State party to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2008, thus, all government and private buildings must strictly comply with the provisions of the Accessibility Law which is geared towards improving the mobility of persons with disabilities around structures when transacting business.

In the city, Yangot claimed there are alarming reports that some government and private offices located in buildings are not yet compliant with BP 344 making it burdensome for persons with disabilities and even with senior citizens to transact business thereby automatically depriving them of essential services and ultimately participating fully in social life and the development of the societies in which they live in.

BP 344 or the Accessibility Law was enacted in 1983 to promote the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities to participate fully in the social life and the development of the societies in which they live in for the full enjoyment of the opportunities available to other citizens.

Moreover, the law expressly provides no license or permit for the construction, repair or renovation of public and private buildings for public

use, educational institutions, airports, sports and recreation centers and complexes, shopping centers or establishments, public parking places, workplaces, public utilities, will be granted or issued unless the owner or operator shall install and incorporate in such building, establishment, institution or public utility, such architectural facilities or structural features or shall reasonably enhance the mobility of disabled persons such as sidewalks, ramps, railings and the like.

The resolution will be transmitted to the concerned government agencies and owners of public and private buildings for their information and further needed action in compliance to existing laws, rules and regulations.