Lapid wants ID with lifetime validity for PWDs having permanent disability

Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid on Friday said the renewal of identification cards for persons with permanent disabilities must be scrapped for their convenience.

He filed Senate Bill No. 1795, seeking to amend the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons that requires all PWDs to renew their IDs every three years so that their condition may be regularly evaluated.

Lapid, however, pointed out that this re-evaluation does not apply to those with "permanent disability" such as those who have pre-existing birth defects, permanent blindness or deafness, loss of limb or body parts.

He said the process is burdensome to the beneficiaries and a waste of government resources.

"Hindi na sila dapat pahirapan pang i-renew ang kanilang PWD ID lalo na kung ang kapansanan nila ay panghabang-buhay na. Makakabigat lamang sa kanila ang pagsasailalim sa paulit-ulit na proseso ng pagkuha ng ID at pag-aaksaya lang din ito ng kanilang oras at salaping pambayad sa renewal fee," Lapid said in a statement.

To be entitled to the lifetime validity of a PWD ID, the permanent disability of the holder must be certified by the municipal or city health officer.

Lapid's bill also mandates issuing offices to ensure that the lifetime validity of these IDs will not be abused, especially after the holder dies.

Senator Sonny Angara, meanwhile, sought a Senate investigation last June on reported abuse in the issuance of PWD IDs, following complaints against a family in Quezon City whose six members had been registered as PWDs despite non-submission of required documents.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged local government units to be stricter in issuing PWD IDs. —LBG, GMA News