A NEW disabled passenger lift (DPL) was launched on Wednesday at the country’s premier airport to assist persons with disability (PWD), one of 35 that would be distributed across other airports in the country.
Michael Ivan Shau, vice president for airport services of Cebu Pacific (CEB), said the carriers invested over P100 million for the procurement and installation of DPL, the first of its kind installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 since March 2017 for testing and evaluation.
Since July CEB has used the DPL for many PWDs, the pregnant and the elderly who may have difficulty climbing stairs to board their flights, Shau added. “We are looking at initiatives to improve the passenger experience for every Juan. For our PWD passengers and those with reduced mobility, we recognize the experience of being lifted manually can be uncomfortable. Investing in the DPL allows us to board and deplane passengers with reduced mobility safely, with minimal discomfort,” Shau said.
The use of DPL is free of charge for CEB passengers. Currently, there is only one working DPL unit at the Naia. However, once the other DPL units are installed across major airports where there are CEB flights, PWDs or those with reduced mobility who booked with CEB may request special assistance by simply ticking the box indicating this requirement upon booking their flights.
By early-2018 all 35 units of DPL will be in place, assisting passengers in local and international flights. Seven DPL will be placed at the Naia 3. The rest will be placed in CEB hubs located in Clark, Cebu, Kalibo, Iloilo and Davao, and 19 other high-traffic CEB domestic destinations where Airbus aircraft operates.
These are Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan), Puerto Princesa, Zamboanga, Bacolod, General Santos, Butuan, Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Legaspi, Dumaguete, Pagadian, Cotobato, Roxas, Ozamiz, Tawi-Tawi, Tuguegarao, Dipolog, Virac and San Jose Occidental Mindoro, Shau said.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes