Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III has thrown his support behind the National Council on Disability Affairs’ (NCDA) initiative to establish a unified identification system for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This move is aimed at curbing the fraudulent distribution of PWD IDs to those who do not qualify. Pimentel emphasized that the system would help enforce Republic Act 10754, which safeguards the rights and benefits of PWDs. He stressed the importance of utilizing government resources effectively, pointing out the significant investments in computerization that should now be leveraged to enhance service delivery.
Pimentel highlighted the urgency of implementing the unified system to prevent the misuse of benefits intended solely for those with genuine disabilities. He believes that a unified PWD ID system is crucial for the proper execution of the law and to assist those in real need. He also mentioned that such a system would protect the integrity of PWD benefits and ensure equitable access for eligible individuals.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who chairs the NCDA, stated that the unified ID system would improve the efficiency of service delivery to vulnerable groups through digital means. The system will feature a standardized design and a digital version to thwart attempts by unscrupulous individuals to exploit discounts and privileges meant for PWDs with counterfeit IDs. Gatchalian noted that President’s frequent calls to use technology to address inefficiencies in existing systems are guiding this initiative.
The implementation of the unified ID system will be a joint effort between the DSWD, NCDA, and local government units through their respective Persons with Disability Affairs Offices. Gatchalian explained that the system would involve real-time encoding at the local level, initially producing online IDs that could later be converted into physical IDs upon request and mailed by the DSWD. The pilot testing of this system is scheduled to run from January to June this year.