ILOILO City – Fake Persons with Disability (PWD) identification cards (IDs) are allegedly being used to claim 20-percent discounts and value-added tax (VAT) exemptions. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 is calling on the public to report incidents involving these IDs.
While no formal complaints have been received in the region, there have been reports from media and social media about individuals using fraudulent PWD IDs, said Marien Grace Tamonan, PWD focal person of DSWD-6.
Upon identifying such cases, DSWD coordinates with local Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs) or the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDOs) to address the issue.
“We encourage the public to report incidents involving illegal use or fake IDs directly to the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), an attached agency of the DSWD, or through our office,” Tamonan told Panay News.
Legal Consequences for Fake ID Use
Tamonan said individuals caught using fake PWD IDs face fines and legal consequences.
Public cooperation is crucial in reporting these cases to facilitate investigations, she stressed.
To obtain a legitimate PWD ID, individuals or their authorized representatives must visit their local PDAO or MSWDO.
Required documents include a medical certificate issued by municipal, city, or provincial health offices to certify the disability, a 1×1 ID photo, and a valid ID for identification.
Genuine PWD IDs are verified through the Philippine Registry of Persons with Disability (PRPWD) System, which tracks validity periods and control numbers.
PWD ID holders enjoy significant benefits, including a 20-percent discount on purchases at restaurants, hotels, transportation services, and malls, as well as exemptions from the 12-percent VAT.
Growing PWD Population in WV
As of May 8, 2024, data from the PRPWD System recorded 127,229 PWDs in Western Visayas:
* Aklan – 15,511
* Antique – 14,600
* Capiz – 19,656
* Iloilo Province – 43,985
* Iloilo City – 9,679
* Negros Occidental – 31,167
* Bacolod City – 4,379
* Guimaras – 2,344
National Attention on Fake PWD IDs
The issue of fake PWD IDs gained national attention following a Senate resolution filed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, seeking an investigation into tax leakages caused by the proliferation of counterfeit PWD IDs.
In Bacolod City, 100 fake PWD IDs were uncovered, showing discrepancies such as incorrect paper types, mixed-up ID numbers, and fabricated disabilities.
Similar cases were reported in Cebu City, where seven fake PWD IDs were confiscated.
According to Gatchalian, fake PWD IDs not only deprive the government of tax revenues but also undermine local government programs designed to assist PWDs.
Restaurant owners have reported significant increases in sales to PWDs — from five percent to 30 percent — due to the misuse of fake IDs, further highlighting the economic impact.Strengthening Policies
Under Republic Act 10754, establishments can recoup PWD discounts through tax deductions, but Gatchalian emphasized the need to assess the impact of fake PWD IDs on tax collection.
“We must determine the extent of tax leakages caused by these fake IDs to craft necessary legislation or policy recommendations,” he said.
The call for vigilance against fake PWD IDs coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed globally on December 3./PN
