PWD-owned startup aims to put more PWDs on the road

By VJ Bacungan and Danica Uy

English subtitles for video
Legend: J Juanito Mingarine; U Unknown voice
(0:19)
J - There, like that.
(0:22)
J OK.
(0:27)
J This is the converted tricycle that we developed for PWDs so that, at least, we wont have a
hard time traveling. So its just a simple vehicle. Its a simple motorcycle that we added a sidecar
to. Then, we converted the transmission so that, instead of it being foot-operated, we added an
extension so that it could be operated by hand. So if you need to change gear, you only need to
use your hand.
(1:16)
U Hold on, it might get run over.
(1:17)
J The majority of motorcycles that we use have a push-start button, which means that they
have an electric starter. So, there, its like that. There, the engine is running and ready to go.
(1:35)
J Right now, its in neutral. So, you put it in the first gear so that, at least, the motorcycle can
get going.
(1:50)
J So those are the features of the tricycle. Very simple. If you need to change gear, you just
need to reach it with your hand.
(2:11)
J In case you have a passenger who is also a PWD, who also uses a wheelchair, it would be
easier for him or her to ride because there is already a ramp built into the sidecar. If you put it
down, like this.
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(2:30)
J For instance, like this.
(2:35)
J Here, like that. When you put it down, your passenger can disembark. He or she can get on or
get off so that he or she doesnt need to move out of his or her wheelchair. He or she doesnt
need to leave his or her wheelchair just to transfer into the vehicle.
(3:06)
J We thought of this motorcycle because, first of all, it is very, very hard for someone in a
wheelchair to ride in public transportation. In a bus, a taxi, a jeepney. It is very hard for us,
especially in jeepneys and taxis. And sometimes, during peak travel months, like Christmas time
or during December, it is very hard to get a taxi. They dont want to take us when they see us in a
wheelchair. They start picking passengers. So we thought of just making our own vehicle.
(3:55)
J So here it is. Right now, we dont have a standard design for our vehicles because one of the
things that we are working on is a vehicle, like a taxi, that has been adapted to accommodate
both PWD and regular passengers. At the same time, our company provides jobs for PWDs.
However, the best approach for that new design is still being formulated. We need to make sure
that the measurements and the specifications are all the same, so that its universal.
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