DAY 2-NDPR WEEK- THE FIRST AIR TRANSPORT ACCESSIBILITY FORUM

Retired General Boots Bautista, Chief Operating Officer of  Manila International Airport Authority, welcomed all guests and participants of the First Air Transport Accessibility Forum held at the Viewing Gallery of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport held on July 18, 2011. Gen. Bautista willingly gave his mobile number and encouraged everyone to inform him if they would encounter any problem in their turf and assured that he will do his best to respond to all calls. It was an opportunity that everyone welcomed made the audience confident, especially the persons with disabilities present during the forum, who felt that another ally was won. The cheerful retired general obviously won the hearts of everyone.

The air transport forum is a dream come true for the Task Force on Accessibility of the Department of Transport and Communication led by Architect Rizal Morales. In the midst of issues of passengers with disabilities being denied of their rights in air transport, particularly the case of 10 deaf passengers denied to board the Cebu Pacific flight going to Boracay and the two children with autism from Hong Kong, DOTC Accessibility Team succeeded in bringing together some stakeholders of the air transport sectors to a forum to sensitize them on the rights of persons with disabilities and their needs to be accommodated in air transport without discrimination.

Former Isabela Governor and Kaya Natin Movement advocate Grace Padaca shared her personal experiences as a person with disability surviving the life of being a student struggling to go places with inaccessible transport and triumphed in the end with a degree in Accounting with the love and support from her family which she cited was the most important for the life of a PWD to succeed.

Engr. Bien Mateo of SM Supermalls Disability Affairs Program presented the SM Cares Videos which inspired  and touched everyone on this giant business' initiatives to give A SPECIAL PLACE FOR persons with disabilities as the heart of their customer service.

Mr. Noli Agcaoili, Chairperson of AKAPPINOY challenged the Civil Aeronautics Board to make a policy pronouncement on air transport accessibility by issuing an administrative order. Lets hope that this challenge will not fall on deaf ears, or we will teach them SIGN LANGUAGE (is this a joke?)

Sensitivity Training followed with presentations from Engr. Centeno of DPWH Region 3, Archt. Jaime Silva of UAAP on sensitivity to people with visual impairment, Carmen Zubiaga of WOWLEAP on the Rights of Passengers with Disabilities, Charito Manglapus of CPAP on sensitivity to people with cerebral palsy and other severe mobility disabilities and testimonies from Virgie Rabino of Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines and Cromwell Taduran of Nova Foundation.

I forgot to tell everyone that Philippine Airlines is my favorite airline, which did not give me any problem every time I'm on board with them. It was good to see Sir Junji and Ms. Menchu Sarmiento among the participants and informed everyone that PAL really keep on doing their best to make their passengers feel comfortable during their flights. In the past four years of traveling with PAL, they never insist on signing a waiver for passengers with disabilities. At least, we have our own flag carrier to be proud of. Keep up the good work, PAL!

It was also nice to have our support group from Commission on Election headed by Sir TOny Villasor with Atty. Erwin and Ms. Rexie from the office of Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento. They really stayed for the whole day seminar.

I am also giving special acknowledgement to Ms. Guia, our Focal Person in MIAA for giving us a wonderful accommodation and of course, for coordinating the event.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DOTC TASK FORCE ON ACCESSIBILITY FOR A FORUM WELL DONE! 

by: Carmen Zubiaga (who happened to be there)