MANILA, February 6 ------ The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling on the public to report individuals facilitating the illegal use and selling of fake persons with disabilities (PWD) identification cards to concerned authorities. “The Department is disturbed by the use of fake PWD IDs that harm honest businesses in the country, especially those from the food industry. This concern gravely undermines the progress that we have made towards creating an inclusive society for all vulnerable sectors,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.
The DSWD spokesperson emphasized that under Republic Act 10754 (Act Expanding Benefit and Privileges of Persons with Disability), PWDs were given discounts and privileges to help them access opportunities that would enable them to live fuller and more productive lives. “We cannot deny the fact that persons with disabilities face societal barriers every day. By misusing the IDs to take advantage of the discounts and privileges intended for them, unscrupulous individuals are taking away the services and support that they need leading to more harm to the members of the vulnerable sector,” she said.
Dumlao urged the public to report incidents involving the sale of fake persons with disabilities IDs to the National Council on Disability Affairs, an attached agency of the DSWD, through their email, council@ncda.gov.ph, or through their social media pages. Concerned citizens may also report to the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) under their local government units or to any law enforcement agency. “We hope that the public will help us in this crusade to stop the proliferation of fake persons with disabilities ID. This illegal act must end to help the persons with disability sector and to prevent further damages to struggling businesses, their staff, and honest paying customers.”
Earlier, the DSWD announced the pilot implementation this year of a unified identification card system for PWDs. The unified ID system will have a standardized look and a digital counterpart to prevent unscrupulous persons from availing of the discounts and privileges intended for persons with disabilities using fake ID cards.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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