Here's how you can apply for a PWD ID

Before they can avail of their benefits and privileges, PWDs must first get an identification card from their local city or municipal social welfare offices.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law expanding the benefits of persons with disabilities (PWDs) which exempts them from paying value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services.

Under the IRR of Republic Act 10754 ot the law amending the benefits specified in the Magna Carta for PWDs, "PWDs are those with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others." (READ: Discounts, VAT exemptions now available to PWDs)

These include those with visual, hearing, and speech impairments; physical disability; psychiatric disability; intellectual disability; cerebral palsy; and persons with autism, among others.

Before differently-abled persons can avail of their benefits, they must first get a PWD identification card that may be claimed through the National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA) or in their local City or Municipal Welfare Office. (READ: FAST FACTS: What persons with disability are entitled to)

Here are the steps to get a PWD ID*:

Requirements:

1. Completed application form, either by applicant or care-giver. Forms are available in the following offices:

• Office of the Mayor

• Office of the Barangay Captain

• National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) or its regional counterpart
• 
DSWD offices

• Participating organizations with memorandums of agreement with the Department of Health (DOH)

2. Two 1×1 ID pictures

3. A duly-signed clinical abstract by any licensed private or government clinic, or hospital-based physician

Procedure:

1. Applicant or care-giver must fill up the application form, attaching the 2 1×1 ID pictures and signed clinical abstract.

2. Applicant, care-giver, or registration center personnel must bring or upload the application to the nearest City or Municipal Health Office or its satellite offices, or stations at the barangay for verification.

Note: If PWD is not ambulatory, the receiving health officer shall do a home visit to validate the entries and disability. Applicants who were disapproved shall be advised regarding the deficiencies and shall be allowed to reapply until requirements are complete.

3. Once verified, the forms will be sent to the health officer of the Main City or Municipal Health Center. The health officer will then fill up a certification form, affix a control number, and upload the information to the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities that can be downloaded from the DOH National Office Website.

4. Applicant must bring the duly approved application form and certificate of disability to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office or NCDA for issuance of the identification card.

For inquiries and feedback about issues of PWDs, the NCDA may be reached through the following channels:

Telephone No: (632) 951-6033 and Fax No: (632) 951-5925

Email: council@ncda.gov.ph

Facebook: National Council on Disability Affairs

How To Apply For A PWD ID In The Philippines 2019

The government has a set of laws that address the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country. These privileges can be availed by presenting a special PWD identification card.

What is PWD ID

A PWD ID is a valid identification card issued to persons with disabilities. This card serves as a proof for availing of the benefits and privileges for PWDs. 

Getting a PWD ID is free and valid for three (3) years. Same documents are needed for renewal. However, the requirements should be updated and latest. 

Who can apply for PWD ID

According to the Republic Act 10754, PWDs “are those with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” Below are the PWD ID qualifications:

• Physical incapacity (e.g. amputation, spinal injury, post-polio)
• Visual, speech, and hearing impairment (e.g. blindness, mute, deaf)
• Intellectual, psychosocial, and psychiatric disability (e.g. schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder)
• Learning disability

A person should manifest indications of a disability acknowledged by a medical professional through a clinical abstract or medical certificate.

PWD ID requirements

To be able to obtain a PWD card, the applicant must complete the following PWD requirements:

• Accomplished Philippine Registry Form for Persons with Disability (This form is available on local government offices, National Council on Disability Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Social Welfare and Development. You may also download the file or register online at the Department of Health’s Philippine Registry For Persons With Disability.)
• Barangay Clearance
• Two 2×2 ID picture for the application form, and one 1X1 ID picture for medicine booklet
• Medical certificate or clinical abstract from a physician 

How to apply for a PWD ID

Here are the steps on how to get a PWD ID:

1. Gather all the required documents. Ensure that you have the complete documents to have a faster approval.
2. If the applicant is unable to appear in person for the application, a family member may take over on behalf of the applicant. The representative must present an authorization letter signed by the PWD applicant.
3. After the verification of submitted documents, the forms will be forwarded to the health center near your municipality. The appointed officer will fill out a certification form and will input the submitted data to the Philippine Registry for PWD.
4. Then, the PWD applicant must submit the certificate of disability and approved application form to the nearest office of Social Welfare, NCDA, or DSWD for the actual issuance of ID. This typically takes only a few minutes to be issued.

PWD Benefits

Upon approval of PWD card application, PWDs are entitled to the following privileges: 

• 20% discount and VAT Exemption

     –   Persons with disabilities can enjoy 20% discount on lodging establishments, restaurants, prescribed medicines from hospitals and pharmacies, professional services on both private and public hospitals, public and private transportation by land, air and sea, and recreation centers. 

• 5% discount*

     –   Apart from the 20% discount, PWDs are also entitled to 5% discount on basic commodities, such as rice, bread, meat, fruits, vegetables, fresh and processed milk, sugar, and coffee, among others. 

• Educational assistance

     –   PWDs who wishes to pursue primary, secondary, tertiary, and post-tertiary can avail of the educational assistance in both public and private schools. 

• Government benefits

     –   Continuation of GSIS, SSS, and Pag-IBIG (if previously employed)

• Other benefits 

     –  Priority parking on establishments and express lane on queues can also be enjoyed by PWDs. 

Given the benefits that PWDs can enjoy, they can’t avail of double discounts. For example, a person with disability can avail of an establishment’s promo or the 20% discount, whichever is higher. Furthermore, if the PWD is also a senior citizen that is entitled to a 20% discount, he/she can only use either his/her senior citizen ID or PWD ID to avail the 20% discount. 

Caregivers of PWDs are also eligible to tax incentives in compliance with the National Internal Revenue Code’s provision.

*The total purchase per week should not be more than P1,300 to qualify for the 5% discount. 

According to the Official Gazette of the Philippines, “persons with disability shall be treated as dependents under Section 35(A) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and as such, individual taxpayers providing care for them shall be accorded the privileges granted by the Code insofar as having dependents under the same section are concerned.”