Belmonte wants indiscriminate issuance of PWD ID cards probed

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered an investigation into the issuance of persons with disability (PWD) cards to unqualified individuals during the term of her predecessor. Belmonte gave the order after learning that six PWD IDs were allegedly issued to six members of a well-off family even though they were reportedly not qualified under Republic Act No. 10754 which expanded the benefits and privileges for the disabled.

“This kind of abuse of the law is alarming, when the law is supposed to benefit PWDs but corrupt officials use it to gain advantage over others,” she said. According to Belmonte, “abuse by the rich and powerful at the expense of the handicapped and less fortunate will never be condoned or tolerated in this city.”

When a photo of the PWD IDs issued to the six family members went viral on social media, the city government said the mayor personally went to the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) to look at their records.

Belmonte said she found no application forms or supporting documents on record to justify the issuance of the PWD IDs to the family. The family allegedly paid P2,000 each for their PWD IDs, the city government reported.

Belmonte said that show cause orders would be issued against former city officials as she also ordered an audit of PDAO and a review of the official list of PWDs in the city.The Department of Trade and Industry has also said it would look into the matter after some restaurant owners complained about the proliferation of fake PWD ID cards that entitle holders to discounts.

Under RA No. 10754, cardholders may avail of a discount and exemption from the value added tax on some goods and services, including food establishments, hotels and recreational centers, as well as in the availment of medical and dental services and the purchase of essential drugs and medicines.