MANILA — Senator Erwin Tulfo has filed a resolution urging the Senate to review the implementation of existing laws protecting persons with disabilities (PWDs), citing persistent barriers in public infrastructure and transportation.

Under Senate Resolution No. 186, Tulfo called on the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an oversight inquiry into the implementation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, or the Accessibility Law, and Republic Act No. 7277, also known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.

“What is the sense of these laws protecting the rights of PWDs if accessible transportation and building features still fall short? Our PWDs are often forced to rely on others or risk their own safety just to move around,” Tulfo said.

He added, “There should be no issuance of building permits or approval of government projects for structural designs that lack mandatory accessibility features!”

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, Tulfo said inaccessibility remains prevalent in public infrastructure, citing examples seen in news reports and on social media.

“We see it on the news and social media—footbridges so steep that PWDs using mobility devices cannot navigate them safely. Even in public transportation, most designs are inconsiderate of the needs of the PWD community,” Tulfo said.

He further asked, “How can we expect our PWDs to reach their full potential if our very systems are rigged against them?”

Tulfo is also pushing for the lifetime validity of PWD identification cards for individuals with permanent disabilities to spare them from renewing their IDs every five years, which he said often results in unnecessary costs and effort.

In addition, the senator called for the depoliticization of PWD registration and advocated the creation of a more efficient, centralized repository of records to ensure assistance reaches legitimate beneficiaries without political interference.