During the Cagayan de Oro public hearing, one woman with mobility impairment shared
the indignity caused by the absence of an adjustable bed and the insensitivity of service
providers: “Kadto na ang table para sa buros, maglisod ko kay dako baya ko. Pag abot sa
ila step board, maningkamot pud ko ug saka sa ilang table. Ang nurse galisod siya so
nagtawag sa iyang kauban. Ang niduol miingon “nganong magboros boros man lagi ni uy
nga maglisod man saka sa table.” Niingon ko, “Tabangi nalang gud ko.” Gikan sa Center
naay discrimination, sa hospital, naa nasad” (‘That maternity table, I had a very difficult
time because I am big. I tried using their step-board and tried to get onto the table. The
nurse tried to help me, but she had a difficult time so she asked for help. Her companions
who came to help me get onto the table said, 'Why did this woman get pregnant when
she can’t even get onto the table?” I replied, “Can’t you just help me?” There is
discrimination in the health center and even in the hospital.’) In another instance, a
woman with mobility impairment needed to have a computerized tomography scan (CT
or CAT scan), so she proceeded to the provincial hospital. The scan was conducted in
August 2018, but it was only in January 2019 that her results were released. She
recounted the many times she had to follow up and climb the stairs in her crutches, and
how, at one time, she slipped because the floor was wet. 22
Similar to restricted communication, constrained mobility creates dependency on
companions among women with disabilities. This impacts women with disabilities’
participation and inclusion. For instance, due to failure of community outreach programs
to recognize women with disabilities’ accessibility needs, women with disabilities
complain of being excluded from community-based outreach programs.23 A woman with
physical impairment from Cagayan de Oro explained their situation: “Because of physical
circumstances, if there is a gathering at the center, we don’t want to go because we don’t
have anyone to come with us or it’s a hassle for us. They do house-to-house visits, but
only for those who they already know well.” Another woman with disability in Cebu
shared that while she is able to access RH information, “There are blind persons who
cannot go to the barangay because they don’t have someone who can guide or
accompany them to their barangay.”24
The importance of physical accessibility was emphasized by a woman-with-disabilityleader in Cagayan de Oro, Ms. Melagros Maquiling, when she said, ‘Actually, you are
telling us, “You are not welcome here!” The schools are actually telling us, “You are not
welcome in this school,” because the school is not accessible. Accessibility is our gateway
towards inclusion and participation.”
3.1.3. Social and Attitudinal Barriers: Inability of service providers to provide disabilityinclusive services, and prevalence of gender-and-disability-insensitive and discriminatory
treatment
22
Cagayan de Oro, Public Hearing
23 Fact Finding Mission in Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay
24
Cebu Fact Finding Mission
11