A broader lrnk at tndayi business
j WednesdaY, October 23, 2Ol9
LAWMAKER SEEKS INVESTIGATION
INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF PWD LAW
A MID reoorts that there are
/f indiv;du"l. *ho fake their
I Idisability to get a person
with disability (PWD) ID, a leader
ofthe House ofRepresentatives on
Tuesday called for an investigation
into the implementation of the law
expanding the benefits and privi-
leges extended to PWDs.
In a news conference, House
Committee on Games andAmuse-
ment Chairman Eric Go Yap of
ACT-CIS said due to the decen-
tralized issuance of PWD IDs,
there is a possibility of abuse by
some unethical and imprudent
individuals like those who have
listed illegitimate beneficiaries.
According to Yap, he recently
asked 15 normal people to get a
PWD ID and they successfully se-
cured the ID after paying P2,000
to P3,000 to fixers in Manila ant
Quezon City.
"There have been reports on in-
dividuals who fake their disability
to get a PWD ID in order to enioy
PWD discounts and frivileges, and
on fixers giving the guarantee of
the issuance of PWD IDs to those
interested," he said. '
"These cases of abuse chal-
lenge the essence ofthelawwhich
aims to ensure that only those
with legitimate disability are
granted with benefits they truly
deserve," Yap added.
Under Republic Act 10754,
those who are issued with the
PAge
PWD ID can avail themselves of
20-percent discount and value-
addedtax (VAT) exemptionplus a
5 percent on basic necessities and
prime commodities.
Yap said the enactment of RA
10754 grants any Filipino withlong-
termphysical,mental, intellectual,
or sensory impairment which in
interaction with various barriers
may hinder their full and effective
participation in society on an equal
basis with others to get a standard
identification card for PWD.
"Those who wish to apply for
a PWD ID need to prepare the re-
quirements asproof of entitlement,
which include a document or-a cer-
tificateconfirming the medical or
disability condition, and submit lt
to the Persons with Disability Ai
fairs Office IPDAO] ofthe cityhall
or municipal hall ofresidence, the
CitylMunicipal SocialWelfare ard
Development Office, the CitylMu-
nicipal Health Office or its sateilite
offices, the Office of the Mayor,
or the Office ofthe Barangay Cap-
tain," he added.
Meanwhile, Yap urged individ-
-
uals who fake their disability to
surrender their PWD ID to their
respective local government unit
to avoid facing criminal charges.
"While Ibelieve thatmayors are
not involved in this modus, I am
urging them toreview the imple-
mentatio$ of this PWD law," the
lawmaker said. .rorce ltute ,Deto1tw
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