Yesterday, we took notice of ABS-CBN’s news report on Senior Citizen Nanay Felica Ociana’s unfortunate plight with MRT.

We call on the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to lift this ban as it has shown, particularly in this incident, that it does more harm than good. The ban is also a misinterpretation of the IATF Rules which does not prohibit older persons from going outside their homes if it is for essential services and goods or for work in the permitted industries.

Simplistic interpretations of denial of essential services without due regard to the situations people face is discriminatory.

The objective to protect the more vulnerable sectors in this public health crisis with the strict implementation of physical distancing and hygiene protocols will be fulfilled alongside the practice of providing priority lanes and the designation of additional separate train cars for older persons and pregnant women.

We urge the DOTr and the MRT management to sensitize themselves to the circumstances of the riding public and orient their frontliners on the ground. We urge the riding public to report similar incidents to the DOTr. The Commission on Human Rights has already dispatched its team to inquire further on the incident.

We thank Department of Social Welfare and Development for being proactive in its commitment to deliver Nanay Felica’s pension and we urge that this can also be extended to other senior citizens.