MANILA — E-buses specifically designed for persons with disability will soon ply Metro Manila roads, in a bid to make transportation more accessible and inclusive, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday.

The DSWD on Tuesday unveiled the e-buses, which will be operated under their Sustainable Livelihood Program.

With an initial fleet of 20 units, the e-buses feature ramps and spaces for wheelchairs, as well as CCTVs to monitor safety of passengers.

"Dapat maging mainstream ang public transpo na ito. Ang utos ng Pangulo nung nagsimula ako, yung proteksyon para sa bulnerable ay malawak," Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

(We should use this public transportation on a wider scale. The President ordered me to protect the vulnerable sector when I started as DSWD chief.)

The e-buses currently operate as corporate shuttles for companies in Taguig City but will soon roll out as a mode of public transportation, with Quezon City destinations eyed as its first routes.

The buses have an app to ensure PWDs will not have to wait outside to get a ride. In the app, the rider can check the routes and destinations and know where to board.

"Maraming may kapansanan ang productive members ng workforce natin at nahihirapan humanap ng sasakyan na safe at accessible," Gatchalian said.

(There are a lot of PWDs who are productive members of society but struggling to find safe and accessible public transport.)

"Sa madaling panahon, kapag dumami na ito, ay magkakaroon na siya ng ruta," he added.

(Soon enough, when we launch more units, there will be fixed routes.)

PWD Gina Reyes of the Sustainable Livelihood Program Quezon City said this will be of great help for them as they cannot even ride jeeps.

"Napakahirap kasi may steps ang jeep, mga dalawang steps, so bago ka makaakyat kailangan may bubuhat sa yo, ngayon yung e-bus may ramp, mas madali for wheelchair users," Reyes said.

(In jeeps there are two steps so you need someone to carry you. These buses have ramps to make it easier for us.)

Gatchalian highlighted that for the buses to work efficiently, structures such as bus stops must also be PWD friendly.

"Kailangan yung mga bus stops ay accessible din for PWDs, kailangan angkop sa layunin ng programa," he said.

(The bus stops should also be accessible for PWDs and aligned with the goals of the program.

PWD groups under the agency's Sustainable Livelihood Program will be part of the management of the e-bus operations.

According to the National Council for Disability Affairs, there are more than 2 million registered PWD Filipinos, accounting to almost 2 percent of our population.

“Pag ikaw ay may kapansanan, ikaw ay nahihirapan pumasok sa trabaho so ‘yung economic opportunity nawawala kaagad. Usually nagiging option na lang nila mga taxi, may kamahalan. What we end up having is probably the safest transport for our community,” said Freddie Tinga, president of Global Electric Transport, the creator of the bus.

PWD members of the Sustainable Livelihood Program Association of the agency participated during the design process of the e-bus.

“Noong binubuo pa lang po itong bus, si DSWD po nakipag-coordinate po sa aming persons with disability,” said Sarah Jean Dela Rosa, president of the Sustainable Livelihood Program Association, in District 2 Quezon City.

When asked about the struggles of PWD when commuting, Dela Rosa said, “Una, inaccessible ‘yung bus, walang kakayahan maka-access ‘yung mga taong naka-wheelchair, or blind, or nahihirapan. Pangalawa, ‘yung hindi magandang pagtrato ng mga tao sa community doon sa persons with disability. Kasi minsan unknowledgeable ‘yung mga tao pagdating sa mga PWD.”

The launch came just a few days after the viral incident of a PWD getting mauled in a bus at the EDSA Carousel.

Gatchalian said they would extend assistance to the PWD in the viral video.

“Nakakalungkot na may ganoong scenario. Dapat si konduktor o si driver may disability awareness,” Dela Rosa added.

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