BACOLOD City – The city government has expressed support for a Senate resolution calling for an investigation into tax leakages linked to the widespread use of fake Persons with Disabilities (PWD) identification cards.
Sen. Win Gatchalian, author of Senate Resolution No. 1239, cited reports of fake PWD IDs being sold in various areas, including Bacolod City, where 100 counterfeit IDs were uncovered.
Alma Gustilo, head of the city government’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), said the city welcomes the inquiry, emphasizing that the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) is actively addressing the needs of the PWD sector.
To combat the proliferation of fake IDs, Bacolod City has implemented QR codes on identification cards for both senior citizens and PWDs under the administration of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez. This initiative strengthens data security and ensures authenticity, Gustilo explained.
As of now, the city has issued QR-coded IDs to 50,433 senior citizens and 17,078 PWDs. Earlier this year, Mayor Benitez ordered the recall of all previously issued PWD IDs to replace them with QR-coded versions.
Gustilo assured that all PWD IDs in Bacolod are now equipped with QR codes, and the Management Information Technology and Computer Services (MITCS) office is available to verify their authenticity. She added that no cases of fake QR-coded IDs have been reported so far.
In February, a downtown establishment was shut down by the city government for producing counterfeit IDs, including those for PWDs and senior citizens.
Beyond PWD and senior citizen IDs, the city government has extended the use of QR codes to other official documents, such as tax declarations, business registration plates, tricycle stickers, and land tax certifications.
“This initiative takes innovation to the next level, enhancing data security and promoting transparency,” Gustilo said. “It strengthens trust between residents and businesses while ensuring secure and verifiable transactions.”/PN
