How to Apply for Persons With Disability ID Card? Guide and Benefits

How to Apply for Persons With Disability ID Card? Guide and Benefits in the Philippines

By: JkPaga

WHAT IS A PWD ID CARD?

The PWD ID is the standard identification card for persons with disability (PWDs) in the Philippines. It can be used to avail of PWD benefits as mandated by the law.

This ID card is valid for three years and free of charge when issued for the first time. There’s a minimal fee for PWD ID renewal due to expiration, damage, or loss of card. Source:(www.moneymax.ph)

Who Can Get a PWD ID?

Any Filipino with a permanent disability can apply for a PWD ID. Pursuant to Republic Act 10754 (1) defines persons with disability as those with “long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments” that interfere with their interactions in society.

Corollary, As provided by the NCDA Administrative Order No. 001 Series of 2008 or the GUIDELINES ON THE ISSUANCE OF IDENTIFICATION CARD RELATIVE TO REPUBLIC ACT 9442, it stated, "Identification Cards shall be issued to any bonafide PWD with permanent disabilities due to any one or more of the following conditions: 

• psychosocial, 
• chronic illness, 
• learning, 
• mental,
•  visual,orthopedic, 
• speech and hearing conditions. 
• This includes persons suffering from disabling diseases resulting to the person’s limitations to do day to day activities as normally as possible such as but not limited to those undergoing dialysis, heart disorders, severe cancer cases and such other similar cases resulting to temporary or permanent disability.

Further, According to NCDA JOINT DTI-DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 02 Series of 2008, or "Discounts on Basic Commodities" defined PWD as to any person suffering from restriction or different abilities, as a result of mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in a manner or within the range considered normal for human being. Disability shall mean (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more psychological or anatomical function of an individual or activities of such individual; (2) a record of such impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such impairment.

What Benefits Can PWDs Get?

Pursuant to Philippines Law, PWD's enjoys certain discounts and privileges. However, to avail this perks, a bonafide PWD should have an Identification Card which shall be the basis to avail certain special privileges and discounts to  in accordance with RA 9442. 

Further, PWD-IDCs shall served as proof for availment of discount to ensure that persons with disabilities shall fully enjoy the benefits and privileges as provided for in RA 9442. (NCDA Administrative Order No. 001 Series of 2008)

Here are the list of benefits: 

Generally, PWD ID holders are entitled to a 20 percent discount and value-added tax (VAT) exemption when purchasing goods. Pursuant to Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act No. 10754 -AN ACT EXPANDING THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD), RULE IV - BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, 

Section 6. Twenty Percent (20%) Discount and Value Added Tax (VAT) Exemption – Persons with disability shall be entitled to the grant of 20% discount and VAT-exemption on the purchase of certain goods and services from all establishments for their exclusive use, enjoyment or availment; Provided, however, that the purchase of such goods and services from sellers that are not subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) shall be subject to the applicable percentage tax.

For this purpose, subsequent purchases by persons with disability on the same day from the same establishments shall still be subjected to 20% discount and VAT-exemption.

All establishments shall place signages in conspicuous areas within their premises to inform persons with disabilities that they are entitled to the 20% discount and VAT-exemption.

20 percent discount on:

• Hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers
• Theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement
• Medicines in all drugstores
• Medical and dental services, including diagnostic and laboratory fees, in all government facilities (subject to guidelines to be issued by DOH in coordination with PhilHealth)
• Medical and dental services, including diagnostic and laboratory fees, and professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities (in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by DOH in coordination with PhilHealth)
• Domestic air and sea travel
• Public railways and bus fare
• Skyways and expressways toll fees (for PWD owning a vehicle)

5 percent discount on:

• Basic necessities (rice, corn, bread, fresh, dried and canned fish, other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed milk, infant formulas, fresh vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, firewood, charcoal, candles and other commodities as classified by the DTI and the DA) (JOINT DTI-DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 02 Series of 2008)

• Prime commodities (fresh fruits, dried, processed and canned pork, beef, and poultry, meat, dairy products not falling under basic necessities, noodles, onions, garlic, diapers, herbicides, poultry, swine and cattle feeds, veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle feeds, veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle, paper, school supplies, nipa shingle, plyboard, construction nails, batteries, electrical supplies, light bulbs, steel wire and other commodities that may be classified by DTI and DA)

Education or Scholarship Assistance

Every year the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) opens the application for Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) from February to April.

The following requirements are needed:

• Fully accomplished StuFAPs Application Form.
• Most recent grades for the last two semesters (for ongoing college student), of Form 138 (for HS Graduates)
• Any one (1) of the following: ITR of parents, non-filing of income tax/tax exemptions, or certificate of indigency from the barangay
• Certificate of Good Moral Character from Current school.

Application form may be downloaded at http://www.ched.gov.ph

For other queries and clarification, you may call directly to CHEDRO in-charge or through (02) 988-0001 or email at osds@ched.gov.ph

Other benefits include:

• Express lanes in all commercial and government establishments.(Section 10. of IRR for RA 10754 - Express Lanes for Persons with Disabilities – Express lanes for persons with disability shall be provided in all commercial and government establishments. In the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them in all the transactions of the establishments.)
• Accessible biometrics registration and voting precincts
• Designated PWD-friendly public attorneys
• Educational assistance to pursue primary, secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, as well as vocational or technical education in both public and private schools
• Protection against verbal and non-verbal ridicule and vilification
• P15,000 worth of benefits to qualified PhilHealth members or dependents in need of lower limb prosthesis
• Establishment of a Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in every province, city and municipality
• Accessible website of all government agencies

How to Get a PWD ID Card?

• Completed PWD ID application form available at any of the following sites:
  • National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) or its regional counterpart
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) offices
  • Participating organizations with memorandums of agreement with the DOH
  • Office of the Mayor
  • Office of the Barangay Captain
  • PWD ID application form from the DOH website
  • DOH Online Registration System
• Two 1×1 ID photos with name and signature at the back (Some city/municipal halls require two 2×2 ID pictures.)
• Barangay clearance, voter’s ID, or any valid government-issued ID
• Latest medical certificate or clinical abstract that confirms disability condition from licensed private or government clinic, or hospital-based medical professional

SOURCE(s): 

JILL CHUA (Apr 7, 2019), "Here’s how and why you should claim your PWD card," Retrieved September 12, 2020,  from https://nolisoli.ph/60840/pwd-id-jchua-20190407/

Venus Zoleta,(January 8, 2020) "Guide to PWD ID Application and Benefits in the Philippines," 

Retrieved September 12, 2020,  from https://www.moneymax.ph/government-services/articles/pwd-id-application#:~:text=Any%20Filipino%20with%20a%20permanent,with%20their%20interactions%20in%20society.

JOINT DTI-DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 02 Series of 2008, "Discounts on Basic Commodities," dated July 27, 2009, Retrieved September 12, 2020,  from https://www.ncda.gov.ph/2009/07/discounts-on-basic-commodities/

NCDA Administrative Order No. 001 Series of 2008, "GUIDELINES ON THE ISSUANCE OF IDENTIFICATION CARD RELATIVE TO REPUBLIC ACT 9442" Retrieved September 12, 2020,  from https://www.ncda.gov.ph/2009/07/apply-fo-pwd-id-card/

https://www.ncda.gov.ph/2009/07/educationscholarship-assistance/

IRR OF RA 10754 -AN ACT EXPANDING THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD), Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/implementing-rules-and-regulations-irr/irr-of-ra-10754-an-act-expanding-the-benefits-and-privileges-of-persons-with-disability-pwd/