FILE PHOTO: Sen. Grace Poe. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe added to the cry of public disappointment over the now-viral ramp at the PhilAm station of the Edsa Busway in Quezon City.
The ramp is meant to cater to persons with disabilities (PWDs), but it has come under fire after wheelchair users found it too steep for efficient use.
“Instead of being helpful for our PWDs boarding the bus, this ramp by MMDA in the Edsa Busway would even cause accidents,” Poe, who used to head the Senate’s panel on public services, said in Filipino a statement Thursday.
READ: MMDA chief defends ramp design at Edsa busway station: It’s not wrong
According to the senator, the country’s lack of PWD-friendly facilities should not be used as an excuse to build haphazard projects for people with disabilities or special needs.
“The ramp must be immediately fixed before an accident occurs. It’s exasperating to see millions in taxpayers’ money spent on projects like this that endanger safety and life,” Poe said.
She said government agencies must utilize public funds in the right manner. If not, it is only wasting the hard-earned taxpayers’ money.
In a separate statement issued Thursday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) justified the controversial ramp, saying it follows a specific “height restriction.”
“We would like to inform the public that MRT has a specific height restriction and it was followed by MMDA. That’s why it was impossible to level the elevator to the footbridge,” the MMDA said in Filipino.
READ: Break down obstacles limiting PWDs
The MMDA likewise noted that the ramp is, in fact, “not too steep to walk into.”
“It’s not a perfect design, especially for those in wheelchairs, but it’s still a big help for senior citizens, pregnant women, and other PWDs instead of using the stairs,” it said.
“The ramp was installed due to limited space and without it, the elevator could not be installed in the structure for the convenience of commuters boarding the busway station.”
To address complaints, MMDA said it would deploy personnel to assist PWDs if they would ever need help using the ramp