DSWD, NCDA kick off pilot run of unified PWD ID system
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) launched the pilot implementation of the unified identification (ID) system for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
The rollout began in San Miguel, Bulacan, the first of 35 pilot local government units (LGUs) selected to implement the system aimed at streamlining and securing the issuance of PWD IDs.
Pasay and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila, and Sta. Rosa in Laguna are also scheduled to begin implementation within the week.
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said under the new system, LGUs, through their respective Persons with Disability Affairs Offices, will handle the application, verification, and approval of PWD ID cards.
The NCDA will oversee centralized printing of the physical IDs.
“The NCDA will continue to coordinate with other participating LGUs to plot the schedule for their respective pilot roll outs in the following weeks,” she said.
The unified ID features a digital version accessible via a mobile app or web portal and includes a scannable QR code for verification by business establishments.
Physical RFID-enabled PVC cards will also be issued for offline use.
About 200,000 individuals, or 10 percent of the estimated 2 million PWDs nationwide, are expected to participate in the pilot rollout.
Pilot areas include cities and municipalities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, such as Parang in Maguindanao; Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta, and Alaminos cities in Pangasinan; Solano in Nueva Vizcaya; most municipalities in Bulacan; Cainta, San Mateo, Santa Rosa, Teresa, and Antipolo City in Rizal; Carmona in Cavite; Pila in Laguna; Daet in Camarines Norte; Kalibo in Aklan; Candijay in Bohol; Malaybalay in Bukidnon; Koronadal City in South Cotabato; and the cities of Pasay and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila.
The unified PWD ID system is part of the Marcos administration’s initiative to curb the use of counterfeit PWD IDs and promote more inclusive services and policies for the disability sector.