E-buses seen as PWD safe haven

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has described the newly acquired electric buses for persons with disabilities as “a very comfortable means of transportation” and “safe for our persons with disabilities.”

Gatchalian made the remarks during an inspection and test run of the additional electric buses, purchased through the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

He added that the agency is continually exploring ways to create more safe spaces and opportunities for persons with disabilities, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to prevent discrimination and exclusion.

“The instruction of our President when I started at DSWD was to ensure that our protection for the vulnerable is very broad,” Gatchalian said. “That includes the launch of safe spaces or safe public transport for our persons with disabilities.”

The DSWD chief explained that one of the agency’s programs is the SLP’s Persons with Disabilities-Electric Transportation Service Project. This initiative provides livelihood grants to persons with disabilities who are members of SLP associations, enabling them to purchase electric vehicles for their chosen transportation enterprises.

Each SLPA comprises 115 members, all persons with disabilities from 10 local government units in Metro Manila

“This is the livelihood they [SLPAs] thought of, where these e-buses travel, which are person with disability-friendly, to ensure that our workers with disabilities have a shuttle,” Gatchalian said.

SLPA members manage and operate the service units in coordination with Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines Incorporated, the chosen service provider for the e-buses.