Fake PWD IDs: Who Really Loses?
I am a Person with Disability (PWD). I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a type of psychosocial disability, during the pandemic in 2020.
I take antidepressants daily as maintenance medication and undergo regular consultations with a medical professional. During the early stages of my diagnosis, my sessions were scheduled every three weeks, then monthly, quarterly, and eventually biannually by 2024. But as they say, healing is not linear—after experiencing a relapse, I am currently undergoing therapy every six weeks.
It was only last year that my psychiatrist issued a medical certificate entitling me to a PWD card.
Under Republic Act 9442, an amendment to the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, a certificate of disability or non-apparent disability from a licensed medical professional is required to obtain a PWD card. Additionally, applicants must present a valid ID, submit two 1×1 photos, and undergo an assessment interview.
Just last December, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched a nationwide crackdown on fake PWD IDs. Citing an estimated ₱88 billion in revenue losses, the government intensified its campaign, which initially began in 2022.
In a letter to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who chairs the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) urged the government to take swift action and implement effective solutions to curb the proliferation of counterfeit PWD IDs.
PamCham called on the DSWD and local government units (LGUs) to enforce stricter issuance and verification processes, impose penalties for fraud, raise public awareness, protect businesses, and establish a clear reporting and complaint mechanism for abuses of the system.
The province’s premier business chamber also emphasized that the widespread use of fake PWD IDs severely impacts the restaurant industry, employment, and overall economic stability.
I agree with PamCham. After all, it is not the responsibility of businesses—or legitimate PWDs—to verify the authenticity of an ID. The burden of fixing this flawed system should not fall on the private sector but on the government.
As someone with an invisible disability, I often find myself having to explain and defend my rights and privileges under the law. It is not only frustrating but, at times, even traumatic. However, I also understand why restaurant owners impose strict policies—they are suffering from these fraudulent practices, too.
In this scenario, where fake PWD IDs are used to claim discounts, both PWDs and small business owners are the direct victims. But this issue concerns everyone. Imagine faking a disability just to get a 20 percent discount.
At that point, it’s not just businesses losing—it’s our humanity.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Justine Y. Dizon is the News Manager and Chief Editor of CLTV36 News. He is an alumnus of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Media Program in Asia and holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Ateneo de Manila University.