MOBILITY ASSESSMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT

ACCESSIBILITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

(PWDs) IN VALENZUELA

An Undergraduate Research Project

Presented to the Faculty of College of Engineering and Information Technology
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

John Linard L. Aningga

Janriel C. Manalo
Katleen Cyrish D.C. San Jose
Ross Daniel A. Villafuerte
 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

The researchers have formulated a Proposed Original Model (PMO) research paradigm
derived from the organization of individual processes of the specific objectives of the study. Both
qualitative and quantitative assessment will be conducted to determine the existing mobility and
accessibility difficulties among PWDs and non-PWDs as well as to investigate the different public
transportation facilities and vehicles along the stretch of MacArthur Highway within Valenzuela.

The first phase, Response Documentation and Determination, focuses on the individual
perception of both PWD and non-PWD passengers when utilizing the existing transport system.
For the qualitative assessment under the initial step of Response Documentation, survey
questionnaire will be given to the respondents in order to obtain information regarding the struggles
or difficulties they experience in public transportation. The researches will inquire about specific
factors affecting mobility and particular issues concerning the facilities and vehicles. Subsequently,
the second step seeks to determine the key mobility and accessibility challenges experienced by the
respondents along with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Test to verify the hypotheses of the study
regarding the mean value comparison of the perceived level of service satisfaction to mobility
factors among PWDs and non-PWDs.

Phase 2, Outsourcing and Investigation, centers to the different public transportation

facilities (i.e. sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and footbridges) and vehicles (i.e. jeepneys, taxis,
and busses) that are present or navigating along the MacArthur Highway. Wherein, the researchers
will gather local and international laws and standards regarding PWD accessibility including
various practices and strategies being implemented across different countries. Afterwards, the
quantitative assessment will be executed through the use of measuring wheel, steel tape measure,
and digital inclinometer as instruments to obtain the dimensions and assess the compliance of
public transportation facilities and vehicles at the specified highway to various laws and standards
outsourced from the preceding step.
 Data Association and Design Development would be the final phase of the methodology
of this research. Gathered data from the first and second phase will be associated with one another
to define their relationship which bears impact to the overall mobility and public transport
accessibility of non-PWD and especially PWD passengers in Valenzuela. Subsequently, a proposal
for disability-inclusive designs and layouts of different public transportation facilities and vehicles
will be developed having the outsourced laws, standards, and strategies as the main basis.

3.1 PHASE 1: RESPONSE DOCUMENTATION AND DETERMINATION

Response Documentation and Determination procedures will be used to obtain the

perception of PWDs and non-PWDs to the existing transport system in Valenzuela.
Qualitative and quantitative assessment will be carried out in these procedures to gather
the needed data and test the hypotheses of the study.

For the qualitative assessment, the researchers will conduct a survey to PWD and
non-PWD passengers from different barangay units in Valenzuela. A questionnaire with
open-ended questions and Likert Scale will be the main instrument in these procedures.
The questionnaire seeks to collect data from both of the classification of respondents
regarding the mobility challenges and accessibility issues they experience along with the
level of service satisfaction to factors which affects transport mobility.

In quantitative assessment, the hypotheses of the study regarding the comparison

of mean values of service satisfaction of PWDs and non-PWDs to the mobility factors will
be verified using ANOVA Test.

3.1.1 Step 1: Response Documentation

A qualitative assessment using descriptive research design will be employed in this study.
Through survey, the researchers will ascertain the perception of PWD and non-PWD respondents
about the different public transportation facilities and vehicles that they often utilize. The
questionnaire will be written in Filipino/Tagalog to be better understood by the respondents of the
study. Open-ended questions concerning the mobility challenges and accessibility issues will be
asked along with a rating scale (Likert Scale) on the relevant factors affecting the overall mobility
will comprise the questionnaire. The survey aims to answer the following questions:

• What are the mobility challenges and accessibility issues experienced by PWD and
non-PWD passengers when utilizing public transportation facilities and vehicles?
• What is the level of service satisfaction of PWDs and non-PWDs to the different
mobility factors?
• How often do PWDs and non-PWDs utilize the different public transportation facilities
and vehicles?

The survey will be conducted on several barangays in Valenzuela with PWD related
organizations and Special Education (SPED) centers or institutions. Persons with physical
disability particularly those with reduced mobility will be the main focus and subject of the survey
for PWDs. Non-PWD respondents meanwhile, will be from anywhere as long as residents of city.

The subject of the survey will be both the PWD and non-PWD residents of Valenzuela that
are utilizing the existing public transport system. Since the city has no active large-scale
organizations or institutions with PWD members and participants like the Tahanan ng Walag
Hagdan, there are instead, local federations and SPED centers or institutions dedicated for disabled
individuals clustered in each barangay unit within the city. PWD respondents will therefore be
selected from those groups while non-PWD respondents will be selected in random given that they
are Valenzuela City residents. The researchers will inquire information related to the mobility
challenges and accessibility issues often experienced in the existing transport system which will
then be compared with one another.

As stated, the data gathering procedure will be in form of survey to obtain the perception
of PWD and non-PWD passengers or commuters concerning the different public transportation
facilities and vehicles. Questionnaires will inquire their individual experiences and struggles when
traveling within the city. The survey also involves a Likert Scale to assess how essential they
consider certain factors that affects mobility such as accessibility, comfort, cost, destination, time,
reliability, and safety as defined by Pajarin et. al (2017). The main statistical treatment employed
during the survey process lies on the computation of the sample size of the respondents where
Slovin’s Formula was used.

Slovin’s Formula:

𝑁
𝑛 = (1+𝑒 2 ) (1.1)
 Where:

n = Sample size
N = Total population
e = Margin of error

According to statistics by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of
Valenzuela in 2019, there are 5,978 recorded cases of orthopedic or physical disability present in
the city. This data will be regarded as the total population in this study. The researchers used a
significance level or margin of error of α = 0.05, from the confidence level of 95%. Thus,
substituting the given values to the formula for sample size gives:

𝑁 5,978
𝑛= =
(1 + 𝑁𝑒 ) [1 + (5,978)(0.05)2 ]
2

𝑛 = 374.914 ≈ 375 𝑃𝑊𝐷𝑠

Therefore, the total number of PWD respondents will be 375 individuals. Accordingly, the
total number of non-PWD respondents will be made equal to 375 individuals as well.

3.1.2 Step 2: Challenge Determination

The survey from the preceding process will yield data about the mobility challenges and
accessibility issues experienced by PWDs and non-PWDs as well as the perceived level of service
satisfaction of each mobility factors. In the stated latter part of the survey, Likert Scale will be used
to assess the perception of PWDs and non-PWDs. Hence, a qualitative research design will be
employed through ANOVA Testing on the gathered data to verify the claims of the hypotheses of
the study regarding the mean comparison of the level of service satisfaction among different
mobility factors.

This procedure will analyze the data collected from the survey in the previous step,
particularly the values produced on the Likert Scale associated to the level of service satisfaction
of PWDs and non-PWDs in different factors affecting mobility such as accessibility, comfort, cost,
destination, time, reliability, and safety in transport system. The null hypothesis of this study states
that the mean of service satisfaction of PWDs to the mobility factors are equal to the mean of
service satisfaction of non-PWDs. Conversely, the alternative hypothesis states otherwise, the mean
of service satisfaction of PWDs to the mobility factors are not equal to that of the non-PWDs. The
hypotheses of the study regarding the comparison of mean values of the level of service satisfaction
on the different factors will be analyzed and verified using ANOVA test. The values as perceived
by each classification of passengers will be tabulated separately and then proceed with the
necessary computations. The researchers will use a level of significance, α = 0.05, upon the
confidence level of 95%.

Null Hypothesis, H0: The mean of service satisfaction of PWDs to the mobility factors are
equal to that of non-PWDs.

Alternative Hypothesis, H1: The mean of service satisfaction of PWDs to the mobility
factors are not equal to that of non-PWDs.

3.2 PHASE 2: OUTSOURCING AND INVESTIGATION

Step 3 includes Outsourcing of related Person with Disability (PWDs) accessibility laws,
provision, standards and strategies on transportation and facilities. This involves reviewing of
both international and local provision, ordinances, legal documents and records, as local
standards and laws are very limited international laws and manuals will also be incorporated.
Review of various laws, manuals and standards will be done to establish minimum design
requirements that will be used in the assessment of public transportation vehicles and facilities.

The study was conducted in MacArthur Highway, specifically from Malanday to

Marulas, which only covers the highway that corresponds in Valenzuela City. The public
transportation vehicles that comprise the study are Jeepneys, Buses, and taxis, which will
examine the dimensions of the interiors of the vehicle to observe the accessibility and mobility
challenges experienced of persons with physical disability and also Non – PWDs respondents.
The transportation facilities that are included are the footbridges, sidewalks, and pedestrian
crossings that is present along MacArthur Highway. Data collection was done with the use of
direct observation, and the instruments used in measuring the dimensions of the selected facilities
are the steel measuring tape, measuring wheel, and digital inclinometer, which can be used in
measuring the inclination of certain wheelchair ramps in most sidewalks.
3.2.1 Step 3: Outsourcing

The study will gather the minimum standards and codes from various laws and provisions
set and mandated to address the accessibility of Person with Disabilities (PWDs) by international,
national and local government. The research will incorporate both international and local codes
and laws in order to establish a more general and minimum requirements for accessibility. This
includes reviewing and assessment of various related legal and official documents and records
such as laws and ordinances.

Batas Pambansa (BP) 344 or also known as Accessibility Law which formed minimum
design requirements for various infrastructure that also include transformation facilities such as
sidewalks, crossing and ramps; Republic Act (RA) 7277 or Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
Chapter 6 Section 25-26 specifically encourages and promotes a barrier-free design standards for
PWDs and; DPWH Department Order (DO) 65 (Series of 2013) that set standards for the
markings on pedestrian crossing are some of the local readings that will be reviewed and examine
by the researchers. As local laws and codes are very limited, the study will also review different
international standards such as United Nation’s (UN) “Design for Barrier Free Environment” and
the United States “2010 Americans with Disability Act” (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design
to consider other factors in adopting different minimum accessibility requirements. The
researchers will study these numerous documents in order to create the minimum standards that
would be used in the accessibility assessment of public transportation vehicles and facilities.

3.2.2 Step 4: Investigation

The Manila North Road (MNR or MaNor) is renamed to MacArthur Highway in the early
1960s; it extends from Caloocan to Northern Province of Cagayan. The study is conducted in
MacArthur Highway, which only covers the highway within the vicinity of Valenzuela City,
specifically from Malanday to Marulas, and vice versa.

The public transportation vehicles (i.e. jeepneys, buses, and taxis) passing along
MacArthur Highway were observed to recognize common models. The dimensions (i.e. entrance
height, arm handles, seat depth, entrance step height, entrance step width, pathway, seat width,
backrest, seat height, sitting height) for the jeepney’s interior were obtained from the results of
the study of Baluyot et al. (2017). Subsequently, the buses interior dimensions (i.e. step height,
step depth, step width, vertical and horizontal clearance for the mobility aids, seat depth, seat
width, seat height, leg clearance, backrest height, overhead handrails height, stanchion height,
stanchion length, stanchion width, compartment level height, aisle width) were evaluated from
the study of Gumasing et al. (2018). The vehicles will be assessed due to its accessibility
standards, and mobility challenges experienced by Persons with physical disability, and also Non
– PWD respondents.

On the other hand, other public transportation vehicles such as Tricycles and Pedicabs are
excluded in the study, which is banned in primary highways. In fact, according to Deriquito
(2020) the banning from travelling on national primary roads of Tricycles, Pedicabs and
motorized pedicabs are proclaimed through its Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020 – 036 by the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), these public transportation vehicles are
banned for a long time, yet many drivers are still disobeying the law.

Transportation facilities were evaluated based on the minimum accessibility requirements

established by the local codes. Instruments used were steel measuring tape, measuring wheel, and
digital inclinometer. The selected transport facilities that comprise the study are as follows:

• Footbridges – all footbridges along MacArthur Highway (within the vicinity of

Valenzuela City)
• Pedestrian Crossings – all pedestrian crossings along MacArthur Highway (within the
vicinity of Valenzuela City)
• Sidewalks segments – all sidewalk directly in front of the pedestrian crossings with span
covering to a minimum of 2 meters from each side

3.3 PHASE 3: DATA ASSOCIATION AND DESIGN RECOMMENDATION

Under Data Association and Design Recommendation procedures, the researchers will
begin to utilize the data provided by the survey from phase 1 and the facility and vehicle compliance
assessment from phase 2 of the methodology of the study.

The connection and relationship between the perceived mobility challenges, accessibility
issues, and level of service satisfaction of PWDs and non-PWDs to the mobility factors will be
established along with the results from the compliance assessment conducted on different public
transportation facilities and vehicles. This procedure will yield to better understanding of the
existing conditions in the transport system of Valenzuela especially for PWDs, wherein, specific
reasonings based on the current design and dimensions of public transport facilities and vehicles
will be analyzed.

In pursuance of the main objective of the study, that is to address the challenges on the
mobility of persons with physical disabilities in Valenzuela, the researchers will gather relevant
studies and various strategies for PWD-inclusive transport system. Assistive features and PWD-
friendly designs for the different public transportation facilities and vehicles will be explored from
various local and international sources. The researchers will intend to incorporate different
strategies as well as local and international best practices to come up with PWD-inclusive design
recommendations which can be applied in the City of Valenzuela to address the struggles of PWDs
in public transportation system.

3.3.1 Step 5: Data Association

Descriptive research design will be used in this procedure to establish the connection or
relationship of the data collected from phase 1 and phase 2 of the methodology of the study.
Information based on the responses from PWDs and non-PWDs about the different challenges they
encounter in the existing transport system and the level of service satisfaction to mobility factors,
will be correlated to and supported by the assessment of compliance of public transportation
facilities and vehicles. This procedure will be accomplished in order to provide the researchers a
better understanding of the current situation of the transport system in relation to the challenges
endured by the PWD commuters. Thus, the realizations and conclusions in this procedure will be
utilized and serve as the main basis of consideration to come up with disability-inclusive designs
proposal.

The researches will simply relate the data on key transport challenges and level of service
satisfaction of PWDs and non-PWDs from phase 1 with the measured dimensions and compliance
assessment of the different public transportation facilities and vehicles from phase 2. It will provide
an in-depth explanation as to why and how certain situations in public transport among passengers
especially PWDs occur or take place. In this manner, conclusions and relationship between the data
will be derived and logically analyzed to develop appropriate solutions.

3.3.2 Step 6: Design Recommendation

 To attain the main object of the study, that is to address the challenges in mobility and the
issues on accessibility of persons with physical disabilities when using the existing transport system
in Valenzuela, the researchers seek to provide inclusive design and layout recommendations for the
different public transport facilities and vehicles. Local and international strategies and best
practices for PWD inclusion in public transport system will be employed to the design, with
consideration and aim to address the specific challenges experienced and as cited by PWDs and
non-PWDs.

The researchers will analyze and filter all the browsed laws, standards, journals, and
published studies related to PWD accessibility to come up with recommendations. The main
considerations for the design and layout will be based upon the result of the survey regarding the
specific mobility challenges, accessibility issues, and level of service satisfaction to key factors
affecting mobility of the passengers. Included to the design consideration as well, is the result of
the investigation or assessment of compliance of the different public transport facilities and vehicles
along MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela where dimensions are to be obtained. The design and
layout recommendation will be incorporated with assistive features along with the application of
various strategies and best practices worldwide to attain PWD-inclusive transport.
Matrix of Methodology
 References

Baluyot, M. C., Cuenca, C., Custodio, B., & Jamines, M.S.A. (2017). An ergonomic study on the

ideal interior of jeepneys based on anthropometric measurements of Filipinos. The

Japanese Journal of Ergonomics, 53(2), 644-647. https://doi.org/10.5100/jje.53.S644

City Social Welfare and Development Office. (2019). Ecological Profile 2019.
https://valenzuela.gov.ph/download/pdf/EcologicalProfile2019.pdf

Gumasing, M. J. J., & Dela Cruz, C. H. C. (2018). Ergonomic design of public bus in the Philippines

with provision for senior citizens and persons with disability. MATEC Web of Conferences,

150, 05006. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201815005006

Pajarin, J.B., Soriano, C.M., & Regidor, J.R. (2017). Assessment of mobility of persons with
disabilities (PWDs) in Cainta, Rizal. Proceedings of the 24th Annual TSSP Conference,
Retrieved from http://ncts.upd.edu.ph/tssp/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TSSP2017-02-
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