Are firecracker injury victims qualified for PWD benefits?

Victims of firecracker-related injuries (FWRIs) who have suffered lasting disabilities may be eligible for disability benefits depending on the medical evaluation.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said that the Department of Health (DOH) issues certificates attesting to or confirming the existence of an individual’s disability.

The said certificate, which is issued by a medical professional following an assessment of their disability, is needed to apply for a PWD ID.

“Kasi ina-assess nila yan ano ba yung disability niya. Is it permanent, is it temporary, is it apparent or non-apparent? And then, kapag may certification ng isang individual for a person with disability, then nakakakuha sila ng person with disability ID,” Dumlao told GMA News Online.

(They assess the disabilities. Is it permanent, is it temporary, is it apparent or non-apparent? And then if a certain individual has a certification for a person with disability, then they can be issued a person with disability ID.)

The individual will then have full access to the benefits entitled to PWDs once they are issued a PWD ID.

DSWD may also provide necessary medical and financial assistance if they are proven to be “in crisis.”

How to avail of a PWD ID

According to Dumlao, patients with FWRIs should proceed to their local Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) after securing their DOH certifications verifying their injuries.

Each local government unit is mandated under the Republic Act 10070 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons to establish a PDAO office, which will handle local implementation of the PWD registry and welfare in cities and municipalities.

The PDAO offices shall remain in coordination with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).

Bay, Laguna PDAO Head Julieta Baquiran said that there was no specific qualification on how patients must have gotten their injuries before they can be issued a PWD ID.

“Regardless kung saan nila nakuha yung injury, ma-avail pa rin po yung benefits na para sa persons with disability po,” she shared.

(Regardless of how they got the injury, they can still avail the benefits for a person with disability.)

“Basta po kung may naputulan po ng daliri [o anumang injury], dadalhin lang po [ang pasyente] sa amin po sa PDAO office… Kung wala[ng injury], minsan kasi medyo ang abstract, hindi agad nagbigay [ng ID] o hindi nagbigay certificate,” she added.

(If there’s someone who lost a finger or whatever injury, they just need to bring the patient to us at the PDAO office… If there’s no [injury], since sometimes it’s pretty abstract, we don’t immediately issue [and ID] or provide a certificate.)

Baquiran said that the office required the DOH certificate of disability, 1x1 pictures, and a valid ID to be issued a PWD ID.

Should the patient not be able to appear or a DOH certificate is not available, the PDAO shall personally assess the patient themselves.

“Dapat makita namin ang disability ng applicant po… Minsan, kung di talaga pwede, ang ginagawa namin ay pinapapuntahan ko sa tauhan ko po tapos nagvivideo call po sila or nagsesend sila ng video ng pasyente kasi di na natin kailangan patagalin ang pag-issue ng ID. Ginagawan namin ng paraan para di na magtagal,” she said.

(We must see the applicant’s disability… Sometimes, if it really isn’t possible, then what we do is we send our staff over, and we conduct a video call, or they send us a video of the patient, because there’s no need to wait too long to issue an ID. We try our best to find ways to not prolong the process.)

Despite this, there had been no incidents of patients seeking PWD IDs due to FWRIs over the past few years, as well as this year in Bay.

Earlier, the DOH shared that FWRIs in the country may add up to more than 500 cases by the end of the monitoring period.

As of January 1, the nationwide FWRI tally stood at 235 cases.

Based on reports from hospitals, fewer patients were being reported, but more severe injuries were observed for this holiday season.

PWDs are not impaired

Dumlao clarified that PWDs should not be viewed as “impaired” or "non-functioning" despite their injuries or disabilities.

“Kahit na may disability kasi ang isang individual, they are able to function like a normal human being. Nakakapag-trabaho sila… Hindi hadlang ang pagkakaroon ng disability para hindi maipagpatuloy yung paghanap buhay, pag-aaral,” Dumlao said.

(Even if an individual has a disability, they can function like a normal human being. They can work… A disability does not hinder them from continuing work or studying.)

“DSWD is always ready to provide assistance to people in need, especially vulnerable sectors, the marginalized, and the poor. And if anyone, kasi wala naman kami pinipili (because we don’t discriminate), if there's anyone who has been assessed by the Department as in need and in crisis, we will provide the necessary assistance,” she added. –NB, GMA Integrated News