Policy on PWDs hard to enforce

CEBU, Philippines - Apart from being unfair, transport operators said the new regulation penalizing public utility vehicle operators who fail to give persons with disabilities an appropriate seat will not be easy to enforce.

Julito Flores, head of the Cebu South Mini-bus Operator Association, said there are “inconsiderate” passengers whom the drivers, and most especially operators, do not have control over.

“Dili gyud sayon ang pag-implement ana. Maayo tanan tawo considerate,” he said, although he said he has nothing against the new regulation.

The Memorandum Circular 2011-004 of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board states any PUV operator who fails to give PWDs an appropriate seat will be fined P50,000 for the first offense and P100,000 for the second offense. Flores said the LTFRB should also have a dialogue with the riding public.

“Kay kung naa’y bakol musakay nya naa na’y galingkod sa lingkuranan na para sa iyaha, ug muingon ang pasahero na sakit o mihubag sad iyang tiil, naa diay mahimo ang driver ana?” Flores said.

On the other hand, Ryan Benjamin Yu, managing director of the Cebu-based City Integrated Transport Services and Cooperative, said the new regulation is very unfair to PUV operators.

Yu said he has not yet received a copy of the memorandum circular, but if proven true, he said he will file a petition opposing the provision within the week upon receipt.

“Very unfair kay naa sa dalan ang mga drivers, wa ta’y control ana. Sila gyud unta ang dapat dakpon,” Yu said.

Yu said their obligation as operators is to post stickers on every PUV with a note telling a passenger to vacate the seat if a PWD wants to get on.

“If dili mo-give way ang pasahero, dakpon pud unta nila. Dili unta i-fine ang mga tawo na wa’y labot,” Yu said.

In the circular, regular buses are required to have at least five designated seats for PWDs near entrance doors, while four designated seats for air-conditioned buses.

Also according to the memorandum, other passengers may use those designated seats if not occupied but must yield them to incoming PWDs.

LTFRB-7 director Ahmed Cuizon said he will welcome any petition the operators may file before his office. Cuizon said he will, in fact, endorse their letter to the LTFRB board so the latter may consider amending the circular in favor of the operators.

The LTFRB-7 director said the new regulation just strengthens their previous provisions and also increases the penalty.   - (THE FREEMAN)