CIRCULAR
NO. 46-95
TO: ALL
JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS,
MUNICIPAL
TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL
COURTS AND MEMBERS OF THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES
SUBJECT:
ACCESSIBILITY OF COURTROOMS TO DISABLED PERSONS.
Quoted hereunder
is a letter from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled
Persons:
"The
Inter-Agency
Committee of Accessibility [IACA] created by the National Council for
the
Welfare of Disabled Persons [NCWDP] Governing Board, is tasked to
coordinate
with agencies/departments in the monitoring and enforcement of the
Implementing
Rules and Regulations of Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, also known as the
Accessibility
Law.
"During a
recent accessibility
meeting attended by the undersigned, we have been informed that hearing
of court cases involving persons with disabilities, especially the
wheelchair
borne, are being conducted in the second or upper floors [above the
ground
floor] of the Hall of Justice Buildings. This report have been
confirmed
by the national organizations of disabled persons- the KAMPI. We
understand
that the buildings housing the courtrooms, mostly consist of 2-3 floors
only, and are not required to provide elevators for vertical
transportation.
This condition, therefore, affects the mobility and access of disabled
persons on wheelchair during hearings of cases that take place in the
upper
floor courtrooms.
"x x x
(Signed)
"Arch. J.C.
Marquez,
FUAP
"Chairman
"Inter-Agency
Committee
on Accessibility"
WHEREFORE, in
line with
the effort of the government to provide disabled persons the
opportunity
to fully exercise their rights and perform their duties in society,
judges
should take the proper measures to fully realize the policy set forth
with
the view of providing disabled persons convenient access to courtrooms
holding sessions, if absolutely necessary, on the ground floor or court
houses.
September 18, 1995.
[Sgd.]
ERNANI
CRUZ PAÑO
Court
Administrator
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