Gov鈥檛 urged to prioritize, address commuters鈥� safety
(FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — For Rommel San Pascual, a person with disability (PWD), walking through a sidewalk to reach an EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue) bus station is not just challenging, but also poses safety risks for commuters.
In an interview with 黑料社, San Pascual narrated his experience after conducting a walkthrough at the footbridge of the Nepa Q-mart.
He shared that when he attempted to ascend the footbridge in a wheelchair, he had a hard time doing so due to the steep climb.
San Pascual, spokesperson of Partnership for Inclusion Accessibility and Safety on EDSA (PIASE), said that the government should prioritize the safety of commuters.
“Dapat na tugon ng gobyerno dito, sa akin pong… sa napag-uusapan naming grupo, ay dapat po unahin yung kaligtasan ng mananakay na hindi lang persons with disabilities, senior citizens, mga buntis, mga bata, kalahatan po na dapat makita,” he said.
(The government, based on our group’s discussion, should prioritize the safety of commuters, not just persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, children, and everyone.)
He called on the government to conduct a consultation with the commuters to ensure that their concerns are addressed even in the planning stage.
“Sana po ay makonsulta at laging makasama, lalo sa pagpaplano. Sabi nga natin, nothing about us without us. Kung wala po kami doon sa stage ng planning o ng konsulta, eh paano po sila mai-implement yung tamang sinasabi ng batas?” he pointed out.
(I hope that they will consult us and include in the planning. Just like what we say, nothing about us, without us. If we are not included in the planning or consultation stage, how will they implement what the law mandates?)
He also said that a consultation must be held with commuters, noting the scheduled EDSA rehabilitation this month may affect them.
Meanwhile, Aksyon Dapat Party-list, in a statement, called “for the installation of access ramps, elevators, toilets and waiting areas for PWDs, seniors and other passengers with mobility challenges.”
The Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) on Tuesday said that a segment of EDSA rehabilitation in the northbound portion from Quezon City/Caloocan City boundary to Monumento will begin by the end of March 2025.
“The DPWH-NCR assures that the EDSA bus carousel will remain operational, however, it will be temporarily relocated on its adjacent lane, while EDSA bus stations remain open for commuters,” it said in a Facebook post.
“Once the closed segments from the first lane are fully rehabilitated, the EDSA bus lane will move back to its original lane to accommodate its regular operations,” it added.
