QC LGU tightens issuance of PWD IDs
Published Jun 26, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued stricter measures in the issuance of Persons with Disability (PWD) identification cards (IDs) "to prevent fraud" and to ensure that only qualified individuals "can continue to obtain their IDs in an expeditious manner."
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
(Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The local government made the announcement Thursday night after discovering that several individuals, particularly those from "well-off" families, were able to obtain PWD IDs without supporting documents. "Hindi natin puwedeng hayaang maabuso ang batas ng mga tao na nais makalamang sa kapwa ,” Belmonte said in issuing an order. Under Memorandum Circular No. 16 signed by Belmonte, the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) "is tasked to coordinate with a Quezon City government-owned hospital to verify the claim if a PWD declares having a disability that is not visibly apparent." “The PDAO will schedule the applicant at one of our hospitals and have them undergo a personal assessment by the appropriate specialist medical doctor,” Belmonte said. If the doctor confirms the disability, only then will the PDAO issue the ID. Meanwhile, for PWDs with apparent disability or with obvious physical manifestation, the local government said, they only need to submit their latest medical certificate or abstract describing the disability or a photo showing their apparent disability. “An indigent with a disability, but no medical certificate or abstract, may undergo free examination in one of our hospitals, provided they submit a certificate of indigency from the barangay,” Belmonte said. Aside from the medical abstract or certificate of verification, PWDs must also submit proof that they are residents of Quezon City, such as a government ID with address or barangay certificate of residency, and 2x2 ID picture. The local government said the PDAO will scrutinize multiple applications from the same household or same address where the disabilities are not visibly apparent. They will also have to undergo verification by a city-run hospital in a bid to prevent the recent incident involving members of a well-off family all of whom had PWD IDs from happening again. On Wednesday night, Belmonte revealed that the culprit behind the issuance of PWD IDs to the six family members was already identified and was issued a show-cause order to explain his side. The six individuals, who recently went viral online, were issued PWD IDs despite being unqualified under Republic Act No. 10754 (An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability) after allegedly paying P2,000 for each card.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte(Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The local government made the announcement Thursday night after discovering that several individuals, particularly those from "well-off" families, were able to obtain PWD IDs without supporting documents. "Hindi natin puwedeng hayaang maabuso ang batas ng mga tao na nais makalamang sa kapwa ,” Belmonte said in issuing an order. Under Memorandum Circular No. 16 signed by Belmonte, the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) "is tasked to coordinate with a Quezon City government-owned hospital to verify the claim if a PWD declares having a disability that is not visibly apparent." “The PDAO will schedule the applicant at one of our hospitals and have them undergo a personal assessment by the appropriate specialist medical doctor,” Belmonte said. If the doctor confirms the disability, only then will the PDAO issue the ID. Meanwhile, for PWDs with apparent disability or with obvious physical manifestation, the local government said, they only need to submit their latest medical certificate or abstract describing the disability or a photo showing their apparent disability. “An indigent with a disability, but no medical certificate or abstract, may undergo free examination in one of our hospitals, provided they submit a certificate of indigency from the barangay,” Belmonte said. Aside from the medical abstract or certificate of verification, PWDs must also submit proof that they are residents of Quezon City, such as a government ID with address or barangay certificate of residency, and 2x2 ID picture. The local government said the PDAO will scrutinize multiple applications from the same household or same address where the disabilities are not visibly apparent. They will also have to undergo verification by a city-run hospital in a bid to prevent the recent incident involving members of a well-off family all of whom had PWD IDs from happening again. On Wednesday night, Belmonte revealed that the culprit behind the issuance of PWD IDs to the six family members was already identified and was issued a show-cause order to explain his side. The six individuals, who recently went viral online, were issued PWD IDs despite being unqualified under Republic Act No. 10754 (An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability) after allegedly paying P2,000 for each card.