QC LGU implements automated registration system for PWDs
*By Hannah Nicol
* The Quezon City government said on Thursday, July 13, that it implemented an automated registration for Person with Disabilities (PWD) identification cards to ensure that the city’s programs for PWDs will reach its legitimate beneficiaries. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte revealed that the QC Persons With Disabilities Office (PDAO) implemented a thorough verification process to remove fake beneficiaries from the list of registered PWDs. Belmonte said that the use of identification cards by those who are not legitimate PWDs is unacceptable. The PDAO launched the automated registration system which makes the process more efficient and secure. Under the new registration system, the users of the PWD ID must upload the required documentation to prove their handicap through the QC E-Services website which eliminates the necessity for in-person transactions. The cit government said the automated method also minimizes potential patronage or the involvement of fixers during transactions. According to the PDAO, around 78,000 PWD ID holders were registered in the city before the pandemic. The number of card holders decreased by more than 52,000 after they implemented the new PWD ID registration system. Around 7,000 applications were turned down due to their fake medical records. Some were also rejected since they were submitted by individuals who do not qualify as PWDs. Belmonte urged people with disabilities living in Quezon City to utilize the city's programs created to help and empower them.