The Department of Social Welfare and Development warned fake PWD (person with disability) identification card holders to stop using and abusing the benefits meant for people with special needs, as DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the misuse of the privilege “unjustly deprives rightful beneficiaries of access to their entitled privileges.”
Under Republic Act 10754, the Act Expanding Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities, PWDS are granted discounts through these IDs to help them access opportunities that enable them to live more productive lives.
“We cannot deny the fact that PWDs face societal barriers every day. By misusing the IDs to take advantage of the discounts and privileges intended for them, unscrupulous people are taking away the services and support that they need, leading to more harm to the members of the vulnerable sector,” Dumlao said.
She added that the misuse of PWD IDs “undermines the progress that we have made toward creating an inclusive society for all vulnerable sectors.”
The DSWD also said the proliferation of fake PWD IDs is crippling small restaurants and businesses.
It announced the implementation of a unified ID system for PWDs from January to June. It will have a standardized design and a digital counterpart to prevent fakes.
Filipinos’ weakness for discounts and good deals, along with our tendency to normalize “diskarte” workarounds that often border on the illegal, have resulted in not only the misuse and abuse of legitimate PWD IDs, but also the proliferation of fake IDs, which when combined, is giving our government a headache because of a well-meaning law and its half-baked implementation that failed to consider such factors.
Aside from appealing to Filipinos to behave when it comes to the benefits and privileges afforded by the PWD ID, a better system will need to be put in place, starting with a more secure ID card that cannot be as easily faked, and maybe even going as far as adding fines and penalties for its misuse and abuse.
Improving the system will not only benefit the legitimate persons with disabilities, but it also protects businesses and prevents losses in tax collection, along with restoring trust in the government and its ability to properly implement well-meaning programs.*
