The Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) - X held its Second Quarter Meeting on July 6, 2018 at the DPWH-X Conference Room, with participants hailing from various local and national government offices in the Region, in preparation for the upcoming 40th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week Celebration on July 17-23, 2018.
A brief orientation on Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, otherwise known as the “Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to install Facilities and Other Devices,” took place facilitated by Architect Joaries Lao of DPWH-X Building Section, Planning and Design Division (PDD). It tackled the planning principles, classification of buildings by use of occupancy, including the minimum requirements for inside buildings and structures.
Issues and concerns then arose which were noted for consideration, such as the reassessment of the accessibility features design of the host office for convenience of the physically challenged individuals.
Engr. Jessie R. Tutor, Chief of Bridges and Other Public Structures Section, PDD, assured that the suggestions will be deliberated for prioritization in the P20M allocated budget in CY 2018 for the construction and rehabilitation of accessibility amenities of the office for Persons with Disability (PWD). Present PWDs commended the efforts and were looking forward to using the advanced facilities and devices of the office.
The actual Access Audit on DPWH-X’s accessibility features happened in the afternoon led by Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) heads and PWD focal persons.