Solon wants DSWD to exclusively issue PWD ID to stop fraudsters

A lawmaker who called for an inquiry into "irregularities" in the issuance of person with disability ID wants the Department of Social Welfare and Development to solely handle the application process, amid alleged fraudulent claims and redtape.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Yap said unqualified individuals obtained IDs in efforts to take advantage of the PWD perks.

“Gusto nating i-centralize yung pagkuha (ng PWD ID). Napakahirap pong kumuha kapag ikaw ay tunay na PWD. Ang daming dadaanan,” he said.

Applicants have to go to PWD Affairs Office, Mayor’s Office, City or Municipal Social Welfare Development Office.

For the verification on Certificate of Disability, they should go the City/Municipal Health Office or Barangay satellite health office.

According to Yap, some applicants cut short the long process of securing PWD IDs through fixers.

“Yung mga may pera po, hindi ko po nilalahat, hindi po pipila yan. Pupunta ng barangay, ng DSWD, ng city hall para lang makakuha ng PWD ID, hindi sila magtitiyagang pumila kaya yung sa kanila fixer lang po dumadaan,” he said.

Yap claimed that, in universities, PWD IDs are being sold at P5,000.

Yap wants to propose some amendments to Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD), to include a centralized ID issuance process.

Likewise, Yap wants the PWD ID to have security features against counterfeiting.

In a separate interview, DSWD spokesperson and director Irene Dumlao said the issuance process of PWD IDs is based on Section 11 of RA 10754, which requires the process to be localized.

She also said that the process of issuing the PWD card is included in the guidelines under the Administrative Order 001-2018.

While respecting the position of Yap, Dumlao noted that PWD IDs, actually, can be verified by establishments through the Philippine PWD Registry System which can be accessed at pwd.doh.gov.ph.

In this online platform, the sequential code written on the ID card can be checked whether it is verified or not.

Also, Dumlao said the DSWD still welcomes the suggestion of Yap of a security feature for the PWD IDs, considering that checking the code online may consume extra time of working personnel in establishments.

DSWD denounced the alleged illegal activity involving PWD IDs. “Ayaw po natin na may mga unscrupulous individuals or groups who are taking advantage of this benefits accorded to the PWD,” Dumlao said. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GAM News