ILOILO City – After learning that an Australian national had been issued a person with disability (PWD) card, Mayor Jerry Treñas removed the officer-in-charge of the city government’s Office of Persons with Disability Affairs (OPDA).
Issuing a PWD card to a foreigner is irregular, according to Treñas, stressing that such card – which grants its holder special privileges such as discounts in goods and services – is only for Filipino citizens.
From the OPDA, Treñas returned Blesilda Mabilog to her mother unit, the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
According to Treñas, he learned about the matter from a hospital which wrote a letter about its Australian patient who was insisting on using the city government’s PWD card.
The mayor said he learned that the Australian’s PWD card was issued just this Dec. 26, 2019.
“I was so disappointed and disgusted,” said Treñas. “PWD privileges para lang gid sa mga Filipino citizens.”
The OPDA is now being overseen by Eleonor Drilon, Treñas’ executive assistant for PWD.
The city mayor said an investigation is ongoing.
“May ginatan-aw kita nga period nga daw suspicious ang issuances (of PWD cards),” said Treñas./PN
