By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Negros Occidental Rep. Ma. Lourdes “Marilou” T. Arroyo assured persons with disabilities (PWDs) that their concerns which have been overlooked in the past, including the lack of accessibility, will be addressed by the House of Representatives.
Negros Occidental Rep. Ma. Lourdes “Marilou” T. Arroyo (FACEBOOK/ MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
She made the commitment during the first organizational meeting of the newly-formed House special committee on persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Wednesday.
“I am listening to all of you. It is so unfortunate that for the longest time, your welfare has always been neglected and compromised. Action should now be taken to address these concerns and this organizational meeting is only the beginning, and I will make sure that proper measures will be taken up to give you and your families a better way of life,” the wheelchair-bound Arroyo said.
Leaders and representatives of various PWD groups said their lack of accessibility remains a pressing problem and "the biggest obstacle that they face every day."
Arroyo earlier vowed to expeditiously act on measures seeking to promote and safeguard the welfare and interest of PWDs.
“The PWD sector is one of the most overlooked sectors in the country. For such a long time, PWDs have been enduring difficulty compounded by additional setbacks in the built-in infrastructure of our civic and social services that have not progressed enough to include PWDs and take into account their needs," she said.
In December last year, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano announced that Arroyo, sister-in-law of former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had been named chairman of the new House panel.
"This committee that I will be heading will seek to implement measures that can be taken to address factors pertaining to PWDs that have been overlooked in the past, and guarantee that the well-being of PWDs will be prioritized,” Arroyo said.
She branded as "timely" the creation of her panel, "considering the amount of measures that must be taken to ensure that the welfare and concerns of PWDs are being addressed."
The Arroyo panel has expressed its commitment to tackle 28 measures concerning PWDs, including House Bill (HB) No. 2224 or the proposed PWD-friendly and Safe Transportation Act, filed by Arroyo.
HB 2224 aims to institutionalize a PWD-friendly transportation program in order to address the concerns and rights of PWDs as commuters, Arroyo said.
Under the bill, all Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) operators and owners are mandated to upgrade their PUVs by providing passenger boarding ramps or lifts, spaces for wheelchairs and other safety accessories such as seatbelts, clamps, and grab bars to provide safety and comfort for PWD commuters.
Arroyo also serves as vice-chairperson of the committee on health and committee on senior citizens and is a member of the committee on women and gender equality, committee on welfare of children, and committee on Visayas development.
She served as Kasangga party-list representative from 2007 to 2010.