QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Quezon City government suspended until today the processing of persons with disability identification cards to craft new guidelines to eliminate fake PWD discount cards.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said they would come up with safeguards to ensure that only qualified individuals would get PWD cards.
“Our protocols will be revisited and needed controls will be placed so the system will not be abused by greedy and opportunistic individuals,” she said.
Belmonte earlier ordered an investigation on the matter after photos of PWD discount cards issued to six members of a rich family went viral on social media.
She discovered that there were no application forms and supporting documents on record to justify the issuance of the PWD IDs, which happened during the previous administration.
Belmonte said they have issued a show cause order to the city hall employee who processed the PWD cards.
City legal officer Nino Casimiro said the employee was given 72 hours to explain why he should not be held administratively and criminally liable.
Casimiro said the employee could face a complaint for grave misconduct, which merits penalty of dismissal from government service.
Belmonte said the city’s official list of PWDs is being reviewed to ensure that only those qualified under the law will enjoy its privileges.
She also assured business owners that the matter is being taken seriously by the local government, noting the impact of such fraudulent acts on their establishments.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered local government units (LGUs) to be stricter in the issuance of PWD IDs amid reports about the proliferation of fake cards.
Año said he supports the call of Congress to crack down on individuals using bogus PWDs.
Under the law, PWDs are entitled to up to 20 percent discount and exemption from value- added tax for goods and services.
Only qualified PWDs should be issued with IDs or those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment.
Año encouraged businesses to report the use of fake PWD IDs to the police or the issuing LGU for proper action. Romina Cabrera