By MIKHA FLORES
WHEN persons with disabilities (PWD) go out and vote on May 13, they can move around with more ease from drop off points to classrooms where they will cast their vote.
This is because the Department of Public Works and Highways will be building or enhancing some structures in and around selected school buildings to make voting precincts more PWD-accessible. Work is expected to commence shortly and will be completed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ban on public works construction and spending takes effect on March 29, 2013.
The renovations followed an audit done by government agencies and nongovernmental organizations which teamed up to audit 32 out of 60 voting centers for accessibility late last year.
Retired Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento earlier said that only 53 percent of voting centers were audited because of time constraints and limited budget.
As a result of the audit, 10 voting centers in the National Capital Region and 50 outside NCR were identified as needing some enhancement in order for them to be PWD-accessible. The audit was based on the number of PWD registered voters in those areas, the Comelec said.
