The Unified Identification (ID) system for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is set to undergo a pilot test from January to June and is scheduled for nationwide rollout in July, a National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) official said on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The NCDA is an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The introduction of the unified ID system is part of the proposed measures to combat the illegal issuance, sale, and use of fraudulent PWD IDs.
“We had a roundtable discussion during which the idea was formulated for the DSWD to issue a unified ID system. We are just waiting for the finalization of the terms of reference so we can organize the different phases of the ID release,” NCDA Executive Director Glenda Relova said in Filipino during a DSWD forum.
She said, the NCDA Governing Board, which is chaired by the DSWD, developed recommendations to address issues related to the misuse of statutory discounts and privileges for PWDs as mandated by Republic Act (RA) 10754, also known as “An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities.”
The creation of a unified ID system will be managed by the DSWD and the NCDA, in partnership with local government units (LGUs), through their respective Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAO).
Relova explained that during their initial discussions, the application, verification, and approval processes will remain under the PDAO.
However, the DSWD will serve as the central authority issuing the unified ID.
The unified ID system will include a physical and a digital ID, featuring biometric data to prevent fraud.
The physical ID will be an RFID-enabled PVC card with advanced security features for offline use.
Meanwhile, the digital ID will be accessible via a mobile app or web portal, with QR codes for quick verification.
Relova added that the system will include a web-based portal for real-time updates and local-level ID verification, all linked to the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability.