Members of a family in QC issued PWD cards without required documents

The persons with disability (PWD) cards issued in Quezon City to members of the same family did not have any supporting documents on record.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, former senator JV Ejercito, whose tweet about the PWD cards has gone viral, said the release of the cards may have been facilitated by a city official.

“Siguro ‘yong isang unit nila of PWDs, eh mukhang gumagawa ng milagro. Maaaring ‘di alam ng mayors ‘yan pero somewhere from P1,000, P500, P1,500, nakakakuha na sila ng PWD cards,” Ejercito said.

Upon investigation, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the family members were indeed among the list of PWDs who were issued with cards in 2018 but did not submit any required documents.

Among the requirements needed for the PWD card are a medical certificate or abstract, barangay clearance, 2x2 ID pictures, signature or thumb mark on a piece of bond paper and an authorization letter in the absence of the applicant.

Quezon City legal affairs head Niño Casimiro said the city government already issued a show cause order to the employee of the Persons with Disability Affairs Office who released the cards to the family members.

“Kung makikita po namin na malakas ang ebidensiya at maaari po silang makaabala sa imbestigasyon, bibigyan po natin ‘yong mga nandito pa ng preventive suspension,” Casimiro said.

“It involves corruption by government officials, ‘di ba? So the investigation is really comprehensive and in depth,” he added.

Casimiro also assured the local government will now strictly monitor the issuance of every PWD card in the city.

Among the benefits of a PWD card holder are exemption from the 12% expanded value-added tax, 20% discount in restaurants, medicines, medical and dental services and cinemas, among others. PWD card holders are also prioritized in parkings and lines.

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development director Irene Dumlao said business establishments who want to verify the validity of the card may check it through the Philippine Registry of Persons with Disability website.

“‘Yong Philippine Registry of Persons with Disability, ‘yon ‘yong opisyal na database ng mga taong may kapansanan na pinapanatili ng Department of Health,” Dumlao said. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News