CRPD/C/PHL/CO/1
Accessibility Law does not include accessibility for all persons with disabilities. It is further
concerned about the limited accessibility to modern jeepneys.
21.
The Committee recommends that the State party, guided by its general
comment No. 2 (2014) on accessibility, and involving the participation of organizations
of persons with disabilities:
(a)
Conduct a review of its legislation and adopt a plan of action to develop
accessibility to the physical environment, transportation, information and
communications of all persons with disabilities. The State party should adhere to the
principle of universal design as laid down in article 2 of the Convention, ensuring that
the infrastructure, transportation, services and technologies are designed for and
usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for further
adaptation or specialized design;
(b)
Expand accessibility laws and guidelines to protect the accessibility of all
persons with disabilities;
(c)
Establish complaint procedures and monitoring of accessibility
requirements concerning public and private services, facilities and procurement
procedures, ensuring the right of and resources for organizations of persons with
disabilities to support complaint procedures and monitor accessibility;
(d)
Strengthen the technical and financial resources to ensure accessibility to
transportation beyond the available accessible seats on public buses;
(e)
Increase the use of jeepneys for all persons with disabilities;
(f)
Take into account its obligations under article 9 of the Convention that
are relevant to targets 11.2 and 11.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals in order to
provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems to
persons with disabilities by adapting public transport, with special attention to the
requirements of persons with disabilities;
(g)
Adopt monitoring indicators to assess improvements in accessibility.
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (art. 11)
22.
The Committee is concerned about the lack of information on measures taken to
implement the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 and the
coordination mechanisms by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council with respect to persons with disabilities in situations of risk. It is also concerned
about the reports that, during the Battle of Marawi in Lanao del Sur Province in 2017, many
women, and at-risk groups, such as children and persons with disabilities, were left in the
centre of gunfire and chaos, causing massive internal displacement.
23.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Adopt an effective mechanism in accordance with the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 in order to have an accessible
communication strategy (e.g. hotlines, a text message-warning application, general
manuals in sign language and Braille, etc.) and a comprehensive emergency strategy
and protocols for situations of risk;
(b)
Ensure that disaster risk reduction strategies are inclusive and accessible
for persons with disabilities, and comply with the commitments of the Charter on
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, and the 2016 World
Humanitarian Summit;
(c)
Enact legislation and enforce measures requiring all public services to
develop individual and local plans for the safe evacuation of persons with disabilities
during situations of risk, in close consultation with persons with disabilities, through
their representative organizations.
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