BY: LIANNE ASHLEY CALUBAQUIB AND RHOY TAY-YA GUITALA (UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO INTERNS)
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are raising concerns over the rampant use of fake PWD identification cards, calling it not only an act of deception but also a blatant insult to their community.
Eden Diwag, a visually impaired masseuse, relies on her modest earnings to support her two children in college.
Despite the financial struggles, she maximized every peso to afford medicine and daily needs.
“It’s difficult because my income is only 840 pesos. My children’s allowance is 300 pesos—150 pesos each—so our daily budget is around 400 pesos. It’s hard to manage, especially since rice alone costs a lot,” she shared.
PWDs are entitled to a 20% discount on essential goods and services, a benefit that significantly eases their financial burden.
However, Diwag expressed frustration over individuals who take advantage of the system by using fraudulent PWD IDs.
“It’s infuriating. Some people are willing to exploit even the smallest benefits. If only we could switch places,” she lamented.
The proliferation of fake PWD IDs has also become a major concern for the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in Baguio City.
“This is a nationwide issue. Various sectors, especially businesses such as restaurants and pharmacies, are being affected by the misuse of fake PWD identification cards,” said Dr. Samuel Aquino, head of the PDAO.
During a Senate hearing in December last year, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that the government lost 88 billion pesos in tax revenues due to 8.5 million fraudulent PWD IDs.
“These fake PWDs are causing significant economic damage, both in lost revenues and undeserved discounts granted by establishments. We need to put a stop to this,” Gatchalian emphasized.
To curb the misuse of fake IDs, some businesses have implemented stricter verification protocols.
“At our pharmacy, only the PWD ID holder is allowed to purchase medicines to ensure that the ID is legitimate,” said Deborah Singwa, a pharmacy staff member.
Authorities advise the public to check specific security features to distinguish a genuine PWD card from a fake one.
“The front of the card should indicate the issuing barangay and municipality, along with the type of disability and the cardholder’s name. The back should bear the signature of the current mayor. Also, IDs issued from 2020 onward are valid for only five years. Any expired card is considered fake,” Aquino explained.
Individuals caught using, selling, or producing counterfeit PWD IDs may face charges under Republic Act 9442, also known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. Violators may be sentenced to six months to two years in prison and fined between 50,000 pesos and 100,000 pesos.
Additionally, offenders may also be charged under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification of public documents, which carries a penalty of two to six years of imprisonment.
Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious PWD ID usage to help protect the rights of genuine persons with disabilities.
