The inauguration of the Philam Station of the EDSA busway was met with great outcry. Although there is a ramp for persons with disabilities (PWDs), you can tell from the photos that it is anything but accessible. This shouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve walked around Metro Manila long enough.

That’s why nonprofit organization Life Haven Center for Independent Living (or Life Haven CIL) launched the #DapatPWEDE campaign. The goal is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by PWDs due to hostile infrastructure.

“In a rapidly advancing world, why are some still left behind?” said Life Haven CIL president Dr. Jun Bernandino. “This campaign seeks to challenge this by rejecting the ‘pwede na’ (good enough) mindset and advocating for compliance with the legal standards. The campaign’s message is clear: Di pwede ang pwede na. Dapat pwede—accessibility must be a given, not an afterthought.”

Apparently, the Philippines has Batas Pambansang Bilang 344 (also known as the Accessibility Law), which comprehensively lists the standards and requirements to make establishments and structures accessible. Although this was approved back in 1983, it’s hard to believe such a law has existed.

Why does this matter? Well, that’s because PWDs are people, too. And like you, they need freedom of movement to participate in society. There’s no need to make life any harder for them.

If you’d like to support the campaign, you can take photos of substandard infrastructure, places, or facilities. Then share your story on social media, and use the hashtag #DapatPWEDE. To learn more about Life Haven CIL, you can visit its website.