Project Ease to make schools accessible to PWDs

MANILA, Philippines – Construction has started in 272 schools to make sure that they are accessible to people with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said  they have audited a total of 432 schools from January to February this year.

The 272 have received funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the construction of ramps, toilets and pathways to make them accessible to PWDs and the elderly. 

The construction is part of a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday by Bautista and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, United Architects of the Philippines executive vice president Rey Gabitan and Department of the Interior and Local Government director Leocadio Trogela. 

The two-year Project Ease is aimed at improving accessibility of public schools nationwide, which will benefit particularly students with disabilities.

Under the project, a nationwide accessibility audit of public schools that will be used as voting centers was conducted to determine which schools have high concentrations of PWDs and senior citizens.

The project is in compliance with the Accessibility Law, Singson said.

“Ramps were installed in many schools in time for the elections. We’re still getting the status reports from our district engineers to know the exact number of areas that still need PWD ramps, he said.