Iloilo pedestrian overpass ‘not friendly’ to elderly, PWDs

“The world worries about disability more than disabled people do.” Warwick Davis

By Alex P. Vidal

If we follow the law, contractors of the old pedestrian overpass in front of a giant mall at the Iloilo City Diversion Road in Mandurriao district should have been charged in court for violation of Republic Act 7277 or “An act providing for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society and for other purposes.”

For several years since it was built, the old pedestrian overpass, which has been replaced by a new one that will be operational this year, did not have elevators.

It’s mind-boggling how engineers managed to pursue the project without anticipating some loopholes that would give them legal headache.

The structure was not friendly to elderly and persons with disabilities (PWD). And nobody cared; not until a new and better-equipped pedestrian overpass was built early this year to replace it.

The late House sectoral Rep. Art Borjal, a many-time Iloilo and Negros visitor, once told us he would file charges against building owners, public structures and their contractors who did not follow the law on Republic Act 7277.

“Even hotels and malls are mandated by law to build a special area for their customers and clients that are PWDs,” Borjal told us then.

He would have protested the contractors’ negligence in the old Diversion Road pedestrian overpass.

BARRIER-FREE

Section 25 on barrier-free environment of Chapter 6 on accessibility, states that “The State shall ensure the attainment of a barrier-free environment that will enable disabled persons to have access in public and private buildings and establishments and such other places mentioned in Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, otherwise known as the  Accessibility Law’. The national and local government shall allocate funds for the provision of architectural or structural features for disabled persons in government buildings and facilities.”

Section 26 on Mobility states further that “The State promotes the mobility of disabled persons. Disabled persons shall be allowed to drive motor vehicles, subject to the rules and regulations issued by the Land Transportation Office pertinent to the nature of their disability and the appropriate adaptations or modifications made on such vehicles; and Section 27 on Access to Public Transport Facilities states that “The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall develop a program to assist marginalized disabled persons gain access in the use of public transport facilities. Such assistance may be in the form of subsidized transportation fare. The said department shall also allocate such funds as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the public transport program for the disabled persons. The Accessibility Law,’ as amended, shall be made supplementary to this Act.”

DPWH

In a related development, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has decided to put up elevators at the new pedestrian overpass in the same area which would cost some P20 million. 

DPWH Regional Director Edilberto Tayao said

the new pedestrian overpass has its footbridge designed for the ease and convenience of PWDs and senior citizens.

“This is in keeping with the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and Batas Pambansa 344,” the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Iloilo quoted Tayao as saying over the weekend.

PIA said Batas Pambansa 344 seeks to enhance the mobility of PWDs by requiring buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and other devices.

Tayao described the new overpass, 50.235 meters long and three meters wide and costing P19,302, 321 as “PWD-friendly and the only biggest project so far that the agency has built for the sector.”

REDUCE

The structure intends to reduce traffic congestion in the area so that mall goers do not have to use the roads in crossing, according to the DPWH.

Tayao further said: “The city government is encouraging the private sector to contribute to the development and maintenance of the project, through public-private partnership.”

We are happy that the DPWH has finally realized the need and importance of building elevators in the new pedestrian overpass.

The new structure connects the giant mall to the other side of the road where the state-of-the-art Injap Tower is located.

It’s not yet too late to correct the past mistake. As the saying goes, “better late than never.”

Presidential guards and Iloilo reporters

“I do not care how brave a president is; I do not care how many medals he may wear. I do not care how well trained his guards may be. If he violates the will of the people, he shall be eliminated.” Ferdinand Marcos

By Alex P. Vidal

We can’t forget that scene in the tarmac of the old Iloilo airport in Mandurriao district before the EDSA Revolution when a member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) escorting then First Lady Imelda Marcos grabbed the cassette tape recorder of then DYRP Radyo Tagring reporter and now city councilor Armand Parcon and threw it away.

Parcon, DYFM Bombo Radyo reporter Francis Hinayhinay and other broadcast field reporters, were in mad scramble to “ambush” (interview while walking) Mrs. Marcos to no avail. In the judgment of the PSG man, Parcon’s tape recorder was too imposing and was distracting his eyesight. Parcon was unfazed though. His professionalism prevailed over his emotion.

Tape recorders at that time were attached to an AM/FM radio, big or three times the size of the tape recorders beat reporters used in the 90s before mini gadgets and cellular phones came.   

The first lady was heavily guarded. It was still Martial Law and the presidential guards were ruthless if not acting like members of Hitler’s Gestapo. Only the crew from state-controlled RPN-8 (Bacolod) and IBC-12 (Iloilo) were given leeway to televise the arrival of the majestic and bejeweled VIP from Malacanang.

STORY

More morbid stories of fracases involving PSG men and photographers were recorded during every out-of-town presidential visit earlier and even during the time of the late President Cory Aquino, President FVR, President Erap and President Gloria.

We understand that the PSG is trained to consider those within the parameters of the VIPs (the president and members of his immediate family) they were guarding as suspected attackers or enemies. Their motto is, "it is better to be safe than sorry."

When they perform their job, nobody should be treated as holy cows. They should keep a sharp eye and pay attention even to high ranking public officials accompanying the VIPs they are guarding in the entourage. It’s part of their job. The VIPs’ safety is their paramount concern. They have to sacrifice their life, if necessary, to protect and secure the VIPs.

Reporters or anybody in the field don’t take it personally if they are sideswiped and elbowed unintentionally when PSG men perform their duties and responsibilities, as long as their actuation is neither brutish nor physically and verbally abusive.

TREATMENT

We agree that reporters shouldn’t be given a special treatment, but they should not also be treated shabbily and harassed as they are also doing their tasks to the public. 

Members of Malacanang press and the PSG, meanwhile, have forged a special friendship and tie-up that extend during out-of-town and state visits. Because they are familiar with each other, we seldom hear reports of quarrels and misunderstandings among them in relation to the performance of their respective jobs.

To avoid any trouble and hassles, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has organized a proper mechanism for coverage of out-of-town presidential visits by issuing accreditation to bonafide reporters. In the past, the PIA issued color-coded identification cards and limited the movements of media coverage teams to certain assigned areas to avoid confusion and ensure a smooth coverage.

Each media outlet is allowed at least two accredited reporters to provide them wide latitude in their coverage. 

Jaywalkers can’t be forced to pay a fine after arrest

“A society without jaywalkers might indicate a society without artists.” Paul Theroux

By Alex P. Vidal

Sometime in the early 90's, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Capiz manager Jaime “James” Cabag and I were “arrested” by a traffic enforcer while crossing the busy Colon St., touted as the oldest street in the Philippines, in Cebu City.

We already reached the other side of the street when we heard a loud whistle blown by a traffic enforcer, who reprimanded us: “Jaywalking kamo dong (guys you committed a jaywalking).” He was right. The light for pedestrians was still red when we crossed.

James was pissed off not because we would be delayed in our seminar that morning. He was irked by the tone of the traffic enforcer’s voice. A native of San Miguel, Iloilo, James angrily retorted in Tagalog, “Enembarrass mo naman kami sa lakas ng boses mo (you embarrassed us with your loud voice)” while giving the traffic enforcer a dagger look.

He ignored James and escorted us to a corner where several other violators were waiting. Two things came into my mind. Either we would be penalized and asked to pay a corresponding fine right away, or be brought to the police station to be booked and detained. Jaywalking is a serious traffic infraction. In split seconds, more violators were taken to where we were standing. Sensing he could not attend to all of us, the traffic enforcer allowed us to go. It was around nearly 10 o’clock in the morning.

HUMILIATE

In Iloilo City, a “humiliated” male lawyer nearly ran berserk when accosted for jaywalking by city hall traffic ordinance enforcers. A retired male public school teacher nearly came to blows with the same enforcers because of similar infraction. A female GSIS employee engaged the same enforcers in an irritating and ugly verbal tiff that nearly ended in a physical scuffle. And so on and so forth.

These were some of the regular scenarios we witnessed at the intersections of Valeria and Delgado streets (near SM Delgado and Mary Mart Mall) and Delgado-Gen. Luna streets (near Atrium Mall) in Iloilo City.

That was before city hall traffic ordinance enforcers stopped imposing a fine as penalty for jaywalkers right away.

Although they issued official receipts from the city treasurer’s office, the male lawyer questioned the legality of imposing fine as penalty for violators without any court order.  

The lawyer insisted that it’s the court that should determine whether he pays the fine or he goes to jail.

According to Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava, who is a lawyer, it is against the law to immediately collect fine upon apprehension or as a precedent for the release of a person caught violating a city ordinance.

UNLAWFUL

It’s unlawful for any law or ordinance enforcer to immediately collect a fine, according to Nava. The violator must first be detained and proper charges be filed against him for violation of law or ordinance. Then the judge will rule regarding the fine.

Nava and his fellow city councilors have expedited a city ordinance amending the procedure in arresting violators of city ordinances as prescribed under City Ordinance No. 2001-017. It already passed the first reading.

Once the ordinance has been approved and signed by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the unpalatable scenarios we regularly witness in the aforementioned areas and other busy streets and intersections in downtown, City Proper, would hopefully become a thing of the past.