MANILA, Philippines — Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged a major accessibility problem facing persons with disabilities (PWDs), admitting that public infrastructure in the country still has “terrible compliance” with the Accessibility Law.
Dizon made the statement during a House of Representatives budget hearing after Akbayan Representative Percy Cendaña asked how well public infrastructure complies with Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, or the Accessibility Law.
“Terrible compliance with the Accessibility Law,” Dizon said, pointing to the condition of roads and sidewalks as a visible example.
The DPWH chief noted that many roads still lack proper sidewalks, making it difficult—and potentially dangerous—for PWDs to travel safely.
‘PWDs cannot walk along EDSA’
Dizon said he recently joined mobility advocates in walking along EDSA, where he witnessed firsthand the difficulties encountered by PWDs trying to navigate the area.
He stressed that PWDs should not have to use dangerous roadways simply because pedestrian infrastructure is inaccessible.
The DPWH secretary said the planned rehabilitation of EDSA could provide an opportunity to improve pedestrian facilities, including wider sidewalks and better compliance with accessibility requirements.
However, Dizon acknowledged that achieving full compliance with the Accessibility Law nationwide remains a work in progress.
What does the Accessibility Law require?
Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 was enacted to enhance the mobility of persons with disabilities by requiring accessibility features in buildings, public spaces, public utilities and transportation facilities.
The law provides that public-use buildings and facilities should incorporate architectural features that promote mobility, including sidewalks, ramps, railings and other accessibility features.
Its implementing rules and regulations further establish principles such as accessibility, reachability, usability, orientation and safety. The rules cover public and private buildings for public use, streets and highways, public transportation, terminals and other facilities.
The law also places responsibility on relevant government agencies for ensuring accessibility requirements are incorporated into covered infrastructure.
The problem goes beyond sidewalks
The accessibility issue is not limited to one road or one city.
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies has noted that many PWDs continue to encounter barriers to mobility and access to basic services. It has called for stronger enforcement of the Accessibility Law, accountability mechanisms and sustained investment in accessible infrastructure such as sidewalks, public toilets and transportation terminals.
Recent local concerns have also highlighted similar problems. In Davao City, for example, officials raised concerns over sidewalks without ramps and called for public infrastructure to better comply with accessibility requirements, including provisions such as ramps and Braille systems.
These concerns underscore a wider question: If accessibility is already required by law, why do many PWDs still struggle to navigate public spaces safely?
DPWH faces pressure to make infrastructure more inclusive
Dizon’s comments come as the DPWH works on major infrastructure projects and rehabilitation efforts nationwide.
The department has identified EDSA rehabilitation and other road and bridge projects among its infrastructure priorities, while Dizon has repeatedly emphasized the need for better-quality and properly planned public infrastructure.
The National Council on Disability Affairs also continues to coordinate efforts involving accessibility in the built environment and transportation, with DPWH serving as chair of the relevant accessibility subcommittee.
For PWD advocates, however, the challenge is not simply building new infrastructure. It is ensuring that sidewalks, crossings, buildings, transport facilities and other public spaces are actually usable by people with different mobility needs.
Cendaña described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that some sidewalks are so narrow that they cannot even accommodate a wheelchair.
For millions of Filipinos who depend on accessible public spaces to work, study, commute and access basic services, the issue is more than convenience.
It is a question of safety, mobility, independence and equal access.
And with the DPWH now acknowledging the scale of the problem, the bigger question remains:
Will the government’s next major infrastructure projects finally make accessibility a standard—or will PWDs continue having to navigate roads and sidewalks that were never designed with them in mind?
Leave a Reply