DPWH Secretary Mark Villar designated Assistant Secretary Tingagun Umpa as the new Focal Person on Disability Concerns. As a Focal Person on Disability, the newly appointed assistant secretary from Lanao del Norte, will represent the DPWH in the National Council on Disability Affairs Governing Board and will chair the Inter-agency Committee on Accessibility of Built Environment and Transportation.
During the initial meeting with NCDA Executive Director Carmen Reyes Zubiaga, Assistant Secretary Umpa expressed his commitment to the full implementation of Batas Pambansa 344, also known as the Accessibility Law, to be the heart of the Philippine government’s BUILD Project and in promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities to accessible built-environment, especially in public schools, government buildings and other infrastructure. This is in response to the report presented by Norfil Foundation that majority of the public schools audited for accessibility were not compliant, which resulted to poor participation of children with disabilities in school.
He also expressed his willingness to join in advocating for the passage of a bill amending the 35-year old Accessibility Law, which highlights the inclusion of accessibility of information and communication technology and the application of universal design in all government infrastructure projects.
In a formal turn-over ceremony for his post on February 7, 2018 at 9am, Assistant Secretary Umpa will meet all DPWH Regional Representatives with NCDA Representatives to place Accessibility Compliance in the DPWH Agenda and the conduct of Orientation on Accessibility based on the UNCRPD and the Incheon Strategy on Disability Inclusive Development. Expected to join this ceremony are Undersecretary Dimas Soguilon and Secretary Mark Villar. (NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS)
