Quezon City strengthens measures vs fraudulent PWD IDs

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has implemented an automated system to weed out fraudulent applications for persons with disability (PWD) identification cards.

According to Mayor Joy Belmonte, the city’s Persons with Disability Affairs Office implemented rigorous verification processes to identify and eliminate people falsely claiming to have a disability to be included in the list of registered PWDs.

These include the new PWD ID registration system, which requires applicants to submit necessary documents as proof of their disability using the online portal QC E-Services.

This automated process eliminates the need for in-person transactions and removed opportunities for patronage or the involvement of fixers, the city government said.

“The improper use of PWD IDs to obtain discounts by persons who are not legitimate PWDs is completely unacceptable. To address this issue, we have implemented an automated registration system, which makes the process more efficient and secure,” Belmonte said.

Following the implementation of the automated system, the number of PWDs in the city dropped from 78,000 before the pandemic to 52,000.

City hall said it was also discovered that most of the 7,000 rejected applications contained counterfeit medical certificates or were submitted by individuals who did not qualify as a PWD.

As part of the celebration of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Awareness Week, Belmonte disclosed plans to further improve accessibility across the city.

These include having more ramps on sidewalks and buildings to enhance mobility for people with physical disabilities.

Private establishments are also being inspected to ensure compliance with the requirements and standards mandated by the Accessibility Law.

Belmonte also encouraged PWD residents to take advantage of various services and programs implemented in the city, such as the Pangkabuhayang QC, Tindahan ni Ate Joy, Social Welfare Assistance to PWDs and QC Kabahagi Center rehabilitation services.

The city government said it is also promoting inclusivity in the workforce by offering incentives to establishments that actively employ PWDs.

The local government has been distributing wheelchairs, hearing aids and walking aids to PWDs.

“Quezon City joins the nation in commemorating this year’s National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Awareness Week. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and the empowerment of the PWD community,” Belmonte said.