Audit team eyed to check PWD compliance of establishments – Rodriguez

Councilor Jonjon Rodriguez is pushing for the creation of the city’s Local Access Audit Team (LAAT), which will ensure that public and private spaces are PWD-friendly.

Photo: Councilor Jonjon Rodriguez Facebook page

The proposed ordinance was endorsed by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) to the office of Councilor Rodriguez, who chairs the City Council committee on social services.

According to Rodriguez, the primary objective of the LAAT is to uphold, promote, and protect the rights of PWDs by urging establishment owners to be compliant with building and facility standards.

He pointed out that some structures in the city limit and if not impede accessibility among persons with disabilities.

The councilor cited the lack of wheelchair ramps in buildings, the absence of tactile markings for the visually impaired, and other accessibility gaps.

“There are still many deficiencies,” he said, emphasizing the need for a dedicated team that will assess and monitor whether buildings and facilities comply with accessibility requirements.

Once the ordinance is institutionalized, LAAT will be composed of representatives from the Office of the Building Official, the City Engineering Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), other concerned departments, and duly recognized PWD organizations in the city. (JDO/SP)