ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas warned against abuses in the issuance of identification cards to persons with disability (PWDs) and senior citizens.
The un-qualified must not be issued with IDs, Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre reminded local government units (LGUs).
“Only eligible PWDs and elderly must be given IDs. We need to safeguard these sectors to ensure that only the qualified get to avail themselves of privileges and benefits afforded by the government,” said Macapobre.
Republic Act (RA) 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) defines PDWs as those suffering from restriction of different abilities, as a result of mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.
The law also provides for penalties for any person who abuses the privileges granted by RA 7277 such as imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than P5,000.
On the other hand, Republic Act 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) defines a senior citizen or elderly as “any resident citizen of the Philippines at least 60 years old.”
Any person who abuses the privileges granted to senior citizens faces a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P50,000 and imprisonment of not less than six months.
Recently enacted laws provide for additional benefits and privileges to PWDs and senior citizens.
Under RA 9442, PWDs are entitled to 20-percent discount in all establishments relative to the utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers.
Also, 20-percent discount on theaters, medicines, laboratory fees, and medical and dental services is extended to PWDs.
On the other hand, RA 9994 grants senior citizens 20-percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax on medicines, professional fees of physicians and health and homecare services, medical and dental services, fare for land transportation travel, domestic air transport and sea shipping vessels, hotel and lodging, admission fees in theaters and on funeral and burial services. (With a report from DSWD-6/PN)
