THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has joined the government’s drive to stop the proliferation of fake identification cards (IDs) for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The DSWD is developing a unified ID system that would include a web-based portal for real-time updating and ID verification by businesses.
On Monday, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao warned individuals who continue to issue, sell, and use counterfeit PWD IDs.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao. Contributed Photo
“We are urging the public to report individuals involved in the issuance and sale of fake persons with disabilities ID cards, which aim to fraudulently access benefits and privileges intended for persons with disabilities,” Dumlao said.
“Falsifying public documents and using fake documents are criminal offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code,” she said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has also launched a nationwide crackdown on the sale and use of fake PWD IDs, with revenue losses from this sort of tax evasion scheme totaling more than P88 billion.
The law provides persons with disabilities with a 20-percent discount and an exemption from value-added tax (VAT) on certain products and services.
However, some individuals have taken advantage of the system by selling counterfeit PWD IDs to those attempting to claim the benefits deceptively.
According to the BIR, the fake IDs are sold not just on the streets but also on online marketplaces, making them widely accessible.
PWD IDs are only granted by a municipality or city’s Persons with Disability Affairs Office.
A person applying for a PWD ID must provide proper documentation verifying their medical or disability condition.
The DSWD urged the public to report incidents involving the sale of fake persons with disabilities IDs to the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), an attached agency of the DSWD, through [email protected], to the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), or any law enforcement agency.
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