• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The highly urbanized Bacolod City in Negros Occidental was highlighted by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, led by Senator Win Gatchalian, for its innovative security feature on PWD identification cards.
The recognition came during discussions on Senate Resolution No. 1239, which seeks to address how fraudulent identification cards are being used to unlawfully claim the 20 percent Person with Disability and Value Added Tax exemption, which negatively affects government tax collections, yesterday at the Senate building in Manila.
The Senate inquiry, attended by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, was conducted in aid of legislation, to determine the impact of tax leakages caused by the proliferation and misuse of fake PWD identification cards.
To combat the issue of counterfeit PWD IDs, Bacolod City implemented QR codes on PWD cards, which ensures that individuals who truly belong to the PWD sector receive the discounts they are entitled to.
The QR code allows establishments in Bacolod City to easily scan and verify the authenticity of PWD cards, preventing fraud and ensuring that only legitimate cardholders benefit from the privileges.
Before the introduction of QR codes for senior citizen and PWD cards, there were many claims, and we even reached a gross claims rate of six to eight percent. We didn’t know how to track or verify them, according to John Anthony Ledesma, president of Bacolod Entrepreneurs United.
With the implementation of QR codes by the LGU of Bacolod, we have gained clarity, Ledesma said.
In a press statement issued by the City Public Information Office, the monthly claims for PWD cards have dropped to two to three percent, which is attributed to the verification process enabled by the QR codes.
Eric Teng, who represented Resto PH and the restaurant industry, said they are grateful for the innovation introduced by Benitez.
Glenda Relova, Executive Director III of the National Council on Disability Affairs, expressed an interest in replicating Bacolod City’s system of PWD cards with QR codes.
Relova disclosed that they are aiming to use Bacolod as a benchmark for similar initiatives nationwide.*
