Philippines: Evacuation centers, relief goods not PWD-inclusive
By Maria Feona Imperial and Yvette B. Morales
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Schools in Marikina not accessible to people with disabilities (PWD)
In the absence of permanent evacuation centers and shelter sites in Marikina, 31 primary and secondary schools have been the go-to sites during calamities due to their reachability and capacity to accommodate a large number of people.
Intended for public use, schools are mandated to be barrier-free by Batas Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law. The 1982 law aims to enhance the mobility of PWDs by requiring public and private buildings and public facilities to provide accessible features such as ramps.
For one, doors should have a minimum clear width of 0.80 meters, to allow the entry of wheelchairs, which have usual width of 0.60 to 0.75 meters. Portalets, which are often used in evacuation centers, usually do not fit this specification.
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