Are you in Favor of a Unified PWD ID for the Philippines?

Everybody loves a good discount from a favorite food establishment. Unfortunately in the Philippines, where skyrocketing costs largely impact family budget, some resort to obtaining this discount through fraudulent means, such as pretending to be a Person With Disability (PWD) through a fake PWD ID.

How exactly does this happen? For starters, PWD IDs in the Philippines are not foolproof. Every local government unit has its own design and layout of the said ID, where personal details of the bearer are even handwritten, making it prone to illegal production and usage.

Now, the government is on the move to iron out the details of a Unified PWD ID System to solve the problem. But is it really worth all the time, effort, and resources? Let’s discuss.

First things first: What do business owners and PWDs have to say?

Just recently, the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines released a statement on how fake PWD IDs are “crippling the restaurant industry.”

Lily*, a small business owner, affirms that it’s not the government, but the small business owners, who are shouldering the discount. She explains that “due to lower purchasing power, the discounts from fake PWDs are severely hurting businesses. If sales were skyrocketing, the volume could compensate for the losses from discounts. However, with sales declining—some by as much as 60% compared to the previous year—the impact is devastating.”

What does this look like? She shares that if “we sell 100 cups of coffee in a day and 20 of them are purchased using PWD cards, that already accounts for 20% of total sales being discounted. This is a significant hit, especially when profit margins are already razor-thin.”

If you’re also a small business owner, you know how hard it can be to keep your business afloat, and how the use of fake PWD IDs are making it harder for you. Lily is all for supporting PWDs who truly need assistance, but the use of fake IDs to obtain discounts is “unfair and unsustainable.”

Alongside business owners, PWDs lament the widespread use of fake PWD IDs.

KG* believes it is a serious issue “as it undermines the rights and benefits of legitimate PWD ID holders like us.” He also advocates for stricter verification processes and awareness campaigns, for he believes that the use of fake PWD IDs “not only affects accessibility and resources meant for those who truly need them, but also diminishes public trust in the system.”

Meanwhile, Cannie* also expresses sadness over the abuse of the PWD IDs, given that the process of obtaining and renewing one can be tedious. “I had to take the necessary steps to renew my PWD ID when it expired, including paying for a session with a psychologist to prove my psychosocial disability.”

According to Republic Act 10754 or “An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability,” a person with disability “are those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment.” This means that PWDs with non-apparent disability will have to present a certificate of disability during their application for a PWD ID.

Now, what is the Unified PWD ID System?

As a response to the widespread use of fake PWD IDs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) said it’s pilot testing a Unified PWD ID System for the first half of 2025. In this system, all PWD IDs will be made uniform in appearance. They are targeting the full implementation by the end of this year.

The Unified PWD ID aims for tighter security measures by means of biometrics requirement for the PWDs upon application. The new ID will also have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) feature for security, and establishments will be able to access a webpage portal that will allow them to verify the legitimacy of the ID.

So, what’s next?

No new system is foolproof, but it’s safe to say that we are all for a more streamlined system that will protect the welfare of PWDs and business owners. While we’re waiting for the new guidelines on the application process and implementation, we believe that it’s but right to air our hopes for a simple and uncomplicated application process that’s kinder to the PWDs, an efficient system that will prioritize prompt issuance of IDs, and a more reliable system that will truly safeguard the welfare of the PWDs and will hold those who take advantage of this ID accountable.

*Not their real names. Names are altered to protect the interviewee’s privacy.

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