The Commission on Human Rights on Monday raised grave concern over reports of alleged proliferation of fake identification cards for persons with disabilities.
“As the country’s national human rights institution, CHR remains steadfast in advocating for the protection of persons with disabilities against all forms of exploitation and discrimination,” it said.
The proliferation of fake identification cards for PWDs is a serious violation of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and an affront to the dignity and rights of PWDs, the commission said.
Fraudulent practices such as the use of fake PWD cards undermine the integrity of such privileges and trivialize the legitimate struggles and daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities, it added.
“We commend and support these initiatives (to fight the proliferation of fake PWD cards). They are crucial in safeguarding the benefits and privileges accorded to persons with disabilities while ensuring that resources are allocated to those who genuinely need them,” the CHR said.
Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons grants PWDs with a 20 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) on certain goods and services.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is now developing a unified ID system for PWDs while the Bureau of Internal Revenue has initiated a national crackdown on the sale and use of fake identification cards for persons with disabilities.
