February 1, 2009

Access

THEME DAY: PATHS & PASSAGES • Metro Manila, for all the diversity of its population of twelve million, is not very friendly to disabled people or to those who are old and infirm. Many of its roads don't have sidewalks. Pedestrian crossings in its major thoroughfares are footbridges with only stairways as the means of access. None of our public transportation vehicles, except maybe for the light rail system, can accommodate wheelchairs. Newer buildings are finally being constructed with wheelchair access in mind, and some older buildings have been renovated to add ramps, but there are far more places that remain completely inaccessible. The chrome or aluminum railing common to access ramps may not be very pretty to look at, but I would like to see more of them around Metro Manila.

access ramp at the Leong Hall, Ateneo de Manila University

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30 comments:

angela said...

Good angle on the subject and the photo. I agree far more could be done in all towns and cities but take heart that progress is being made..

rob said...

Very interesting and smart interpretation of theme day. I like the minimalistic photo. Ciao Hilda !!

stromsjo said...

Good point. We've probably come a bit further in this area but there's still a lot left to be achieved.

Priyanka Khot said...

Its nice to see that you are combining a key social infrastructural problem with the blogpost. Hope the authorities in the Asian countries also wake up to these necessary upgrades.

A happy February to you!

abc said...

Very good idea. I totally agree.

Sally said...

My mum has difficulty enough now gettign around - rails are a godsend to her and many elderly people - so great thoguhts.

Jilly said...

A very nice post for today and making such an important point. Not enough ease for the disabled anywhere.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Excellent point made so effectively.

Unknown said...

It's sad to realize how disabled people can be forgotten! We have many examples here too, but gladly things are much better. An exemple is Braille will soon be mandatory in supermarkets.

Marie-Noyale said...

A nice picture and a very nice thought.

Bergson said...

Les accès pour handicapés ne sont pas souvent adaptés ici aussi
Access for disabled are often not suitable here

Saretta said...

I hope more of these will be installed soon!

George said...

You make a good point with your interpretation of the theme. Well done!

Laurie Allee said...

This is a great interpretation of this month's theme.

Joy said...

Don't get me started, Hilda! One hat I wear is Diversity Coordinator, and as such I have plenty of beef with the way things are in Manila. Hopefully one of these days I could effect changes through the things I'm learning here.

Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments.


joy
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USelaine said...

This is a great idea for today, Hilda! Any one of us could face a need for such access, and the magnitude of need is often hidden by the disabled being trapped at home.

Sterl the Pearl's Daily Pics of Boulder said...

i echo so many previous comments. smart use of theme day and such an important message.

Mo said...

Point well made. There are many places to help the disabled here until you get to tube stops with stairs and no escaltors. Seems aids for the disabled dont folloew through

marley said...

I like the perspective and your take on theme day. Nice one. The UK government passed a Law several years ago that all public places, businesses, transport etc must have disabled access and by in large it is now common place. One time government got something right!

Anonymous said...

Your photos is great. You're a good friend. Good work. Greetings.
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http://translate.google.com/translate_tools?hl=en

Christina S said...

An original and worthy take on today's theme day. It's awful to feel excluded from places and I hope progress is made - why not send a link to this post to the council?

Jill said...

It is a very good thing. Council members should spend just one day attempting to go about their daily business in a wheelchair.

Reena said...

i like this post. It's socially relevant.

Actually we have the Batas Pambansa 344 or the Law to Enhance Mobility of Disabled Persons. The problem is in the implementation.

yogesa said...

Great pic with a great thought. In India, in my state Karnataka, Govt had made all Govt offices Wheelchair friendly about 4 years back, but the private sector offices and Banks are yet to do that....

Thanks for visiting my Blog - http://karwar-daily-pic.blogspot.com/ and taking time to post ur comments - i really didnt know that the Theme is only for one day and not for the whole month.... Thanx :-)

Andrea said...

What a good point!!! Very smart!!!
So ORIGINAL!!!

escape said...

this makes me like marikina because they have bike lanes. i hope that manila will get to have the same charm.

Greg said...

What a great idea and a message that gets all too forgotten. I believe our buses here where i am in Australia are going to be all wheelchair accessible within a couple of years so steps forward everywhere!

Greg

Ming the Merciless said...

Great interpretation of the theme.

Happy Theme Day.

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Halcyon said...

Good choice for the theme day! One thing I appreciate in the US is our accessibility for the disabled. Europe is also sorely lacking on that point as most buildings are old and rennovations are costly.