The unified identification (ID) system for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is expected to be pilot-tested from January to June and rolled out nationwide in July.
Thus said Executive Director Glenda Relova of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The issuance of the unified ID system is one of the proposed recommendations to address the illegal issuance, sale, and utilization of fake PWD IDs.
“We had a round-table discussion…from there, it was agreed that the DSWD would issue a unified ID system. We are just waiting for the terms of reference to be finalized so that we can iron out the different phases of the ID rerelease,” Relova told a news forum in a mix of English and Filipino.
According to Relova, members of the NCDA Governing Board, chaired by the DSWD, came up with recommendations to address concerns regarding the abuse of statutory discounts and privileges for PWDs as mandated by Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability.
The creation of a unified ID system for PWDs will be managed by the DSWD and the NCDA, in collaboration with local government units (LGUs), through their respective Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAO).
Relova said that during their initial discussion, the application, verification, and approval process will still be under the PDAO. The DSWD, on the other hand, will be the central authority that will issue the unified ID.
The unified ID system will feature both a physical ID and a digital ID with the biometric data of the PWD to prevent fraud.
The physical ID will be RFID (radio frequency identification)-enabled PVC cards with high-security features intended for offline use, while the digital ID will be accessible via a mobile app or web portal with features such as QR codes for quick verification.
Relova pointed out that the unified ID system will employ a web-based portal that can be used for real-time updating and local-level ID verification linked to the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability (PRPWD).