Posted on by May Castillo

PWDs eventILOILO City-The head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI here urged on Monday (November 17) those in the tourism industry to make tourist destinations PWD-friendly.

Speaking in front of owners of hotels and restaurants, tourism officers from different provinces, academe representatives, tour guides and transport sector, DSWD regional director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre said that Persons with Disabilities should get what’s due them.

“We want the PWDs to get what is due them. They deserve to also enjoy nature’s beauty. Things like access ramps or elevators for those who are unable to walk and booklets or reading materials that are in Braille for the visually challenged should be available,” she said.

Macapobre was one of the guests of the Regional Forum on Accessible Tourism hosted by the Department of Tourism 6 (DOT-6) and National Council on Disability Affairs held at Hotel Del Rio on Monday (November 17, 2014).

“It would be interesting to see tourist spot employees who are able to use the sign language for the hearing and speech impaired. Help desks for PWDs, special seats in vehicles, restaurants and other places of interests. The presence of people who are trained to handle different kinds of PWDs. These are things which can make the lives of PWDs easier and more enjoyable, with less stress on their end,” Macapobre added.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Macapobre also called on Local Government Units (LGUs) and private sectors to work together in the implementation of laws for PWDs, which include Republic Act (RA) 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons; RA 9442 which is an amendment of RA 7277; and the Batas Pambansa (BP) 344 or the accessibility law.

“We should help these PWDs. We should make them feel that they are an important part of this society,” she said.

In Region 6, there are 87,519 PWDs recorded as of December 2010. Of this, 42, 990 are males while 44, 529 are females.

Of the number, Negros Occidental has a total of 26, 618 PWDs, Iloilo, 22, 546; Capiz, 8, 658; Antique, 8, 007; Bacolod City, 6, 482; Iloilo City, 6, 334; Aklan, 6, 137; and Guimaras, 2, 737. (DSWD-6/Montesa Griño-Caoyonan).