The SM Store Has Designated Lanes for PWDs

(SPOT.ph) In a social media post, the SM Store reminds the public that it has dedicated lanes for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in all of its branches.

"At SM Store, we strive to create a fun and accessible shopping environment for everyone, along with our strong commitment to treating all customers with fairness and respect," says the post. The dedicated lanes, adds the post, are meant to "facilitate a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience" for everyone.

The message also reminds the public of SM's "friendly and trained" staff who are "always available to assist customers."

The social media reminder about dedicated lanes for PWDs comes days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a legal opinion signed by Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez on priority or express lanes for PWDs.

In it, the DOJ stated that all commercial and government establishments should have express lanes or priority lanes for Persons with Disabilities—citing the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability. It also emphasizes that priority should be given to PWD in all transactions should there be no express lanes. 

"The use of the word 'all' implies that the law does not intend to distinguish between establishments or transactions involving items that are accessible to everyone and items which are of limited quantity," read DOJ's legal opinion.

The legal opinion was a response to a concern from an individual sent through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) that an SM Business Service Center in an SM Mall failed to honor the express lane for PWDs when they were trying to purchase a K-Pop concert ticket.

In a response, SM Supermalls said they implemented a first-come, first-served basis for everyone including PWDs. 

According to SM, they said that the express lane and priority are granted "as a privilege and not a right," and "may not be exercised at the expense of the rights of other individuals as it is not consistent with the equal protection clause giving undue favor or privilege that will result to an inequality of treatment for certain individuals. In this case, able-bodied individuals."

According to an SM insider, there has always been express lanes for PWDs and senior citizens in SM Stores. "For Aura, all our counters have priority lanes."