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E-buses provide safety, comfort for persons with disabilities – DSWD chief

June 17, 2025

“It’s a very comfortable means of transportation…safe para sa ating mga persons with disabilities.”

This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday (June 17) during the inspection and test run of the additional electric buses purchased for persons with disabilities through the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Secretary Gatchalian told reporters that the agency is continuously exploring ways to create more safe spaces and opportunities for persons with disabilities to prevent discrimination and exclusion as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Ang utos ng ating Pangulo noong nagsimula ako sa DSWD is siguraduhin na yung proteksyon natin sa mga bulnerable [ay] malawak na malawak. Kasama diyan yung paglunsad ng mga safe spaces o safe public transpo para sa ating mga may kapansanan,” Secretary Gatchalian said in an ambush interview by media.

The DSWD chief said one of the programs implemented by the agency is the SLP’s Persons with Disabilities – Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) Project which provide livelihood grants to persons with disabilities who are members of SLP associations (SLPAs) to purchase electric vehicles for their chosen transportation enterprise.

Each SLPA is composed of 115 members who are all persons with disabilities from 10 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.

“Ito yung hanap buhay na naisip nila [SLPAs], kung saan bumabyahe yung mga [e-buses] na ito na persons with disability-friendly para masigurado na may shuttle yung mga manggagagawa natin na may kapansanan,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.

The members of the SLPAs are the ones who manage and operate the service units in coordination with the Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines Incorporated, the chosen service provider for the e-buses.

Gina Reyes, a program beneficiary and president of the SLPA District 1-6 in Quezon City, said the e-buses provided them a means to help in the mobility of other persons with disabilities.

“Malaking opportunity para sa aming sektor ng may kapansanan ang mapabilang dito sa proyekto ng DSWD. Alam kong ito ay makakatulong dahil ito ay isang sustainable livelihood program na magiging gabay po namin para ipagpatuloy yung aming mga gawain,” Gina told members of the media.

Currently, the e-buses are being used as shuttle service for persons with disabilities working in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

For plans to expand the project, Secretary Gatchalian said the agency is currently coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to mainstream the e-buses for commercial run in Quezon City.

The ceremonial turnover and blessing of the electric vehicles to persons with disabilities in SLPAs is scheduled on June 24.

The SLP is the DSWD’s capability-building program that provides opportunities to access and acquire livelihood assets to the poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized sectors to improve their socio-economic conditions.

Last June 13, a social media post showing a male person with autism disorder being physically abused inside a public utility bus went viral.

On instructions from Secretary Gatchalian, the DSWD Central Office Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) visited the victim and his family in San Jose Del Monte City (SJDM) in Bulacan on June 14 to assess the condition of the person with disability and provide the needed interventions. (AKDL)

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