By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE PHILIPPINES has already laws concerning the plight of persons with disabilities (PWDs). Unfortunately, compliance to them has not been as wide as hoped.
One such law is Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. It contains provisions designed to protect the rights of PWDs.
Chapter 6 of the law, the provision that deals with Accessibility, states that persons with disabilities should be given an environment that is “barrier-free,” including access to public transport facilities, so as to allow them to improve their total well-being and fast-track their integration with the mainstream of society.
While the law is already there, along with Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (Accessibility Law), compliance still leaves much to be desired as attested by how public transportation in the country, by and large, remains inaccessible to PWDs.
This is the focus of one local non-profit and non-government organization founded in 1998.
Circle of Friends Foundation, Inc. (COFFI) is a group whose primary mission is to provide dignity to people in wheelchairs.
Headed by Swiss-American Margaretha Gloor, COFFI has put up various programs and projects, with support from individual and corporate sponsors, since its inception geared towards supporting people with disabilities.
One long-standing program is the wheelmobile program, where it provides a full-accessible transportation service for people in wheelchairs.
Its “wheelmobiles” offer non-emergency travel for wheelchair users, like going to the doctor for checkups, attending school, going to work, or going out on leisure, for a donation for those who can afford the service, and for free for those who cannot.
“Our major project here is accessible transportation. We built the first four wheelmobiles in 2003 and we are trying to add on them,” said Ms. Gloor in an interview with BusinessWorld in their office in Makati City.
Each wheelmobile, modified to serve its clients better, is air-conditioned and has a foldable ramp for entry. It has rails on both sides and high ceiling, as well as wheelchair belts and passenger seatbelts.
It is capable of accommodating two people in wheelchairs, sitting side-by-side, and two companions or caregivers.
COFFI also has one wheelmobile that features a hydraulic lift.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Ms. Gloor shared that the idea to put up a foundation, and, consequently, the wheelmobile program, came because they felt it had to be done.
“Basically there is no inspiration per se. I don’t have any relatives who have disabilities. In 1987, I got to volunteer at Tahanang Walang Hagdan in Cainta and I had no idea what they did there at first. But I was impressed with what I saw. I volunteered for them and made a fund-raiser in 1996,” said the COFFI founder.
“[At the fund-raiser], we gathered enough money and we thought what should we do with it. It’s not our money. It’s not Tahanan’s money, so why not set up a foundation to keep the money safe. So that was how we started COFFI in 1998,” she added.
As for the wheelmobile, Ms. Gloor said she has seen what cities abroad had for PWDs.
“When I go to Europe and the States I always see these vans and how PWDs there can move around. Then I came back here I found out there was nothing like it here. And so we thought of starting one,” she said.
At COFFI, Ms. Gloor said decisions are made in consultations with their volunteers and donors.
Being a non-profit, the challenge is to make it sustainable which is not easy, she underscored. To sustain operations, apart from donations, COFFI also accepts orders from companies for products and crafts made by PWDs as giveaways. These include bags, painted model jeepneys, and placemats.
COFFI also holds fundraisers. In the past, it put up art auctions and exhibits, ballet and theater performances, Ms. Gloor said.
Later this month, COFFI will hold its annual golf tournament, the proceeds of which will go to the procurement and maintenance of its wheelmobiles, as well as for its other livelihood programs.
Set for May 24, the COFFI golf tournament will be held at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna. Tournament fee is P3,500 per player and the format is System 36 in three categories — A, B and C — and Ladies. Tee-off is 7:30 a.m.
The tournament is also open for sponsorship for those who are interested.
CREATING AWARENESS
While she recognizes that there are efforts locally to support PWDs, Ms. Gloor said much can still be done, particularly on the awareness aspect of providing mobility for people in wheelchairs.
“The orthopedically disabled, who really need a wheelchair, is who we are concerned with, and awareness is not yet fully here in the Philippines,” the COFFI founder lamented.
“In London, all the black taxis are [wheelchair] accessible. And they don’t have to put up the international sign for PWDs because everybody knows [they are]. In New York, it’s the same. Here the awareness is not yet there. The country has to start being aware of it. Other big cities in the world have taken note of it. It’s not perfect, nothing is perfect, but that should not stop us from being aware,” she added.
Ms. Gloor said she welcomes that some cities in the metro have been encouraging public transportation to be more accessible for PWDs, which she described as a start.
She also excitedly shared that the Department of Tourism has been in touch with them for possibly tapping their services to attract local and foreign tourists who are in wheelchairs. It is something that would greatly help their foundation and, above all, in creating awareness for PWD mobility, Ms. Gloor said.
In the years since picking up the cause for PWDs, Ms. Gloor said she is glad that they have done something in their own little way.
“I don’t look at it as fulfillment. I just feel it had to happen. I’m happy that we could help. We have seen changes [in how Filipinos view PWDs] throughout the years. Definitely we are committed to continue. I’m no longer young but I hope others, especially the communities, pick it up,” she said.
“Ideally, each municipality should have their own vehicles as these can also be used not only for PWDs but the elderly and even pregnant women.”
“Awareness needs to happen. It can be done. It can be done. We just have to strive for it,” Ms. Gloor said.
Those who want to avail of the services of COFFI’s wheelmobile and other details about it, as well as details on the golf tournament, can get in touch with the foundation through telefax number 833-6453, mobile number 0929-423-5568 and 0917-810-9504, e-mail wheelmobilemanila@gmail.com, visit www.wheelmobile.ph and www.facebook.com/wheelmobiletransportation.
