The creation of the Persons with Disability (PWD) desk in Police Regional Office 6 is the first in the country.

The following are excerpts from the speech of Police Senior Superintendent Cornelio Defensor, the Chief of Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, during the PWD desk launching last December 7.

On Oct. 21, 2012, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr, the top cop of Western Visayas, was invited by the Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Inc. during the launching of Young Voices Philippines National Campaign here in Iloilo City.

More than 50 persons with disability attended the program because the activity was focused on how the youth with disabilities can speak out on their issues through the social media.

Chief Supt. Cruz was given time to talk to the group about the PNP's services to PWDs. It gave him the opportunity to really find out a particular program or project which specifically addresses the need of PWDs. And unfortunately, he found none. Thus, the idea of establishing a PWD desk in all police offices was born.

As mandated in Article 13 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as a State Party, "we shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others."

Moreover, Republic Act 9442 provides the need for a barrier-free environment with the provision of express lanes for PWDs in all commercial and government establishments.

With these legal bases, Cruz immediately ordered the renovation of the former PRO6 library and transformed it into a model structure for PWD desk. Relatively, he also ordered the drafting of Command Memorandum Circular on establishing PWD desks in all police stations regionwide.

The model PWD desk structure is equipped with toilet accessible to PWD, such as a ramp as stipulated in Batas Pambansa 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law and other PWD-friendly features.

Likewise, Cruz ordered the preparation of the Program of Instruction in coordination with other government agencies involved with PWDs for the conduct of training to all Women and Children Protection Desk personnel, specifically on sign language to aid them with the skills in giving assistance to PWDs during investigation and trial of cases.

Being one of the witnesses to the unfolding of history, I could not help but make a wish that after this project started in Western Visayas, it may also find home in other parts of the country.*