Accessible Tricycle Mobile Service (A-Trike)

Persons with Disabilities are among the most vulnerable people in society due to their lack of participation in the inaccessible environment. Accessibility has been one of the significant barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities in every community. The absence of accessible public transportation such as accessible public utility jeepneys and accessible public utility buses, and even accessible public tricycles in the community discriminates persons with disabilities to comfortably and safely live independently. Our main roads and sidewalks don’t have pathways for wheelchair users and those with functional limitations to travel while performing their everyday activities safely.

The number of persons with special needs continues to grow every year. As of December 2020, the number of registered persons with disability in Las Piñas is 17,778, and one-third of this data consists of persons with mobility impairments. The absence of accessible public transport hinders the full access of persons with disabilities to services rendered by the government. There is a need to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to education and health services in society.

Chapter 2 of Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities prohibits discrimination on transportation because of his disability and implements guidelines for Section 29 of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for FY 2003 entitled “Setting Aside One percent of Government Agency Budget for Programs/Projects related to Senior Citizen and the Disabled,” the Las Pi as Persons With Disability Federation Inc. (LPPWDFI) was prompted to propose an Accessible Tricycle Mobile Service (A-Trike) that will provide transportation to persons with disabilities and the elderly especially those with mobility impairments and those having difficulty riding tricycles, which are the most common form of transportation in a community. This innovation can later be included in the sector's Annual Investment Plan (AIP), with every barangay being allotted a budget for one A-Trike each.

This “innovation” hopes to lessen the problem of the high cost of available public transport for wheelchair users in our communities ( taxi costs a minimum of P 150.00 one way at the shortest minimum distance) as well as improve mobility, promote independence, and increase participation of persons with disabilities in our area. Moreover, because this A-Trike is specifically designed and modified to suit mobility concerns and the comfort of passengers, Senior Citizens and pregnant women can benefit from it.

With the existence of an accessible tricycle in the community seen regularly by persons with disabilities, particularly those on wheelchairs going to different areas to access services, the persons with disabilities will be more visible and active in society. This gives opportunity to the sector to raise awareness on disability issues and concerns like the inaccessibility of our environment and different barriers that they face every day that limits their participation/

Suppose more persons with disabilities will be able to go out and be productive citizens of our city. In that case, the demand to produce the accessible tricycle mobile service (A-Trike) will increase, thus continuously changing the mindset of the people in the community regarding disability. They will be aware or have an idea of the importance and how it affects how of accessibility we see disability. Soon persons with disabilities will no longer be just objects of charity but rather partners in inclusive development and can be conduits of change or “innovators.”