The UPLB Security and Safety Office (SSO) has unveiled another initiative toward inclusive safety measures for UPLB constituents.

SSO will consider the needs of colorblind individuals in the emergency signages that they will put up on campus.

This came after SSO conducted a series of focus group discussions (FGD) beginning in July 2024 aimed at including the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in UPLB’s disaster preparedness strategies. 

SSO collaborated with Dr. Victor Arni DP. Sicam, director of the Philippine Eye Research Institute, on conducting the “STRONG and SAFE PWD” (Safety Awareness for Emergency Signage for Persons with Disabilities) project in UPLB.

The project, presented on March 11, 2024, at UP Manila, aims to create emergency signages tailored for individuals with color blindness. 

Research led by Special Police Assistant Chief Jonathan Maliwat, head of the SSO Crisis and Emergency Response Unit, revealed 10 types of disabilities on campus affecting faculty, staff, and students. 

Among 178 individuals who are PWDs, color blindness emerged as the second most common visual impairment, affecting 28 people. 

An FGD with representatives from five colleges—the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, the College of Agriculture and Food Science, the College of Human Ecology, and the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology—further emphasized the need for accessibility measures for PWDs.

Dr. Sicam’s expert insights guided the project design, ensuring innovative solutions to advance safety and inclusivity on campus.

The initiative aligns with vital legal frameworks, including Article 9 (Accessibility) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Republic Act No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) with amendments (RA Nos. 10524 and 10070), Republic Act No. 9442, and Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (Accessibility Law).

The project reflects UPLB’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and safety, setting a new benchmark in creating a more accessible and welcoming university. (Pamela Mai R. Arquiza)