QC now enforces stricter measures in issuing PWD IDs

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday said stricter measures would be implemented in the issuance of identification cards for persons with disability (PWDs) in the city to ensure that only legitimate PWDs will benefit from it.

Belmonte has signed Memorandum Circular No. 16 directing the city's Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) to coordinate with a Quezon City government-owned hospital in verifying if a certain individual is really eligible to have a PWD ID.

She said PDAO would schedule the applicant at one of the city's hospitals and have them undergo a personal assessment by the appropriate specialist medical doctor. She added that if the doctor confirms the disability, only then will the PDAO issue the PWD ID.

“These guidelines aim to help prevent fraud in the issuance and use of PWD IDs while ensuring that legitimate PWDs can continue to obtain their IDs in an expeditious manner,” Belmonte said in a press statement.

“Hindi natin puwedeng hayaang maabuso ang batas ng mga tao na nais makalamang sa kapwa,” she added.

The stricter measures came after six members of a family were given PWD IDs in 2018 despite not having necessary documents.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Belmonte said upon initial investigation, the city government learned that the members of the family are not residents of Quezon City. She noted that the family supposedly used a fixer to get PWD IDs.

"Una sa lahat, ito pong pamilya na ito, napag-alaman namin na hindi taga-Quezon City.  Pangalawa, wala silang records sa ating PDAO at, pangatlo, ayon sa mga nainterview kong personnel, hindi naman po sila dumaan doon o nagpunta doon. Gumamit po sila ng fixer at nagbayad po ng P2,000," she explained.

Belmonte said two former PDAO officials have been summoned to explain the incident. The mayor wants to know if a fixer is operating within the said office.

"Mayroon na po tayong isa o dalawang tao na nabigyan ng show cause order na dating nagtratrabaho sa PDAO ng lungsod," Belmonte said.

"Sila po muna 'yung gusto kong ipatawag at masusing interviewhin dahil sila talaga ang nakakaalam," she added.

Belmonte explained how PWDs, with apparent disability, would get their IDs. She said they only need to submit their latest medical certificate or abstract describing the disability or a photo showing their apparent disability.

“An indigent with a disability, but no medical certificate or abstract, may undergo free examination in one of our hospitals, provided they submit a certificate of indigency from the barangay,” she said.

Aside from the medical certificate of verification, PWDs must also submit proof that they are residents of Quezon City, such as a government ID with address or barangay certificate of residency, and 2x2 ID picture.—AOL, GMA News