Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a measure seeking to provide lifetime validity of identification cards issued to persons with permanent disabilities.
Lapid, in filing Senate Bill No. 1795, said it is imperative to ease the burden of PWDs (persons with disabilities) who have permanent disability, such as those with pre-existing birth defects, permanent blindness or deafness, loss of limb or body parts, from having to renew their IDs every three years.
The bill primarily aims to amend Republic Act No. 7277,the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
The senator noted that under the current set up, PWDs are required to renew their ID every three years to re-evaluate the cardholder’s entitlement to benefits pertaining to his or her status as a PWD.
But he said this does not apply in the case of PWDs who already have a permanent disability as requiring them to go through the usual tedious process of reapplying for an ID is “superfluous, burdensome, and a waste of government resources.”
“This bill seeks to eliminate this unnecessary burden and rationalize the issuance of PWD IDs by providing for the lifetime validity for PWDs with permanent disabilities,” Lapid said in the explanatory note of the bill.
“This will spare them the inconvenience of going back to the issuing offices every three years, filling up the renewal forms, falling in line and paying fees and charges just to renew their PWD IDs, when no changes have occurred as to their disability status,” he said.
According to Lapid, it is only fitting for the government to give them some consideration and ease their burden especially if their physical infirmity is a lifetime disability.
“Makakabigat lamang sa kanila ang pagsasailalim sa paulit-ulit na proseso ng pagkuha ng ID at pag-aaksaya lang din ito ng kanilang oras at salaping pambayad sa renewal fee (It will only be burdensome for them to follow the process of reapplying for an ID and a waste of their time and money in paying for the renewal fee),” Lapid said.
Under the measure, the municipal or city health officer has to certify the permanent disability of a PWD where they reside.
The senator also said the bill seeks mechanisms that will ensure that the issuing offices will implement strict measures to prevent abuse of the privilege, especially when the ID holder dies.
Lapid urged his colleagues in the Senate for the urgent passage of the measure, saying it is the government’s duty to help those in the marginalized sector particularly those who have physical disabilities.
“Maliit na bagay kung tutuusin na siguruhing hindi na mahihirapan pang mag-renew ng PWD ID ang mga kapatid nating panghabang-buhay na ang kundisyon (It’s a small thing actually to ensure that our fellowmen who have been suffering from a lifetime condition will not have a hard time renewing their PWD ID), Lapid said.
“Kaya hiling ko na agad itong matalakay sa Senado at maipasa bilang batas (That’s why I hope that the Senate will tackle this bill immediately and eventually pass this into law),” he said.