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September 03, 2018

How to Apply for PWD ID in the Philippines

Five years ago I learned that I can apply for PWD ID but after reading and hearing some stories, I was hesitant to apply. There are cases na kahit complete requirements naman, denied, rejected or pinapabalik-balik pa. I don’t want to experience the stress at bawal nga sa akin ang stress so I just let go of the possibility that I can get a PWD ID.

Two years ago I’ve read a post in our Psorphil group about PWD ID again, our President informed us about their meeting with NCDA and he confirmed that we can really apply for PWD ID under Psychosocial Disability or Orthopedic Disability. Then every time that we have a monthly meeting nalalaman ko na meron na mga PWD ID yung mga co-members ko, ako na lang yata ang wala. So I checked all the requirements and reminded myself that I will get Certification of Disability from my doctor.

My doctor gave my certification last March 2017 but I forgot to apply because I went to my mom for our two months vacation hanggang sa nakalimutan ko na. Finally, after so many years of delay, I finally got my PWD ID last December 2017. I went to my doctor for my routine check-up and asked if she can give me a new certification para sure baka sabihin sa PDAO, expired na e.

Who are Qualified for PWD ID (Person With Disability) in the Philippines? 

1. Visual impairment
2. Hearing Loss
3. Orthopedic disability
4. Learning disability
5. Psychosocial disability
6. Chronic Illness
7. Mental Disability

Some doctors are proactive, sila na mismo magsasabi na you are qualified to get PWD ID lalo na dun sa mga may Learning and Mental Disability.

What is Disability?

According to Wikipedia,  "A disability is an impairment that may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, sensory, or some combination of these. It substantially affects a person's life activities and may be present from birth or occur during a person's lifetime."

It only means that not all disabilities are visible, some people kasi na parang tinitingnan ka pa at pilit hinahanap kung nasaan disability mo. Some people look normal pero meron sila disability.

Requirements for Person With Disability ID

Requirements may vary depending on the city or municipality where you live, yung iba nga hiningan pa ng voter’s ID and birth certificate so it is better to visit PDAO. In my experience, here is the list of requirements that I need to submit.

Requirements for PWD ID (New)

1. Doctor Assessment
2. Medical Certificate from MHO (client with chronic illness)
3. Barangay Clearance
4. 1x1 picture (2 pcs)

Requirement for PWD ID (Renewal) 

1. Old PWD ID

I only have Certification of Disability and pictures so I went to Barangay Hall to get my clearance. On my way to the Barangay Hall, the PDAO staff called me and asked for my Medical Certificate. I told them that I no longer have the original copy of Medical Certificate since my husband already submitted it to our Health Card company for reimbursement. The staff informed me na okay lang daw kahit photocopy. Yey, akala ko pupunta pa ko ulit sa doctor.

Good thing that my husband always has a scanned copy so we went home to print my medical certificate and went back to PDAO office. So I submitted my Certification of Disability, Medical Certificate from my doctor and 2 pcs of 1x1 picture. I did not fill out a form, sila na nagsulat lahat while asking me all the information. Pinapirma na lang nila ko. After several minutes, they gave me my ID and two purchase booklet, one for medicine and one for groceries.

Yehey! Finally, I can enjoy the PWD Benefits, malaking tulong yung discount for medicines, check-ups, laboratories and more.

Benefits of PWD ID 

20% Discount and 12% VAT exemption 

1. Hotels and similar lodging
2. Restaurants
3. Recreation centers
4. Theaters, cinema houses, concert hall, circuses carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusement
5. Medicine
6. Medical and dental services including diagnostic and laboratory fees and professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities.
7. Domestic air and sea travel
8. Public railways, skyways and other public utility vehicles.
9. Funeral and burial service for the death of the PWD

Note: There are cases that they don’t accept the PWD ID because the product or service that you avail are already discounted or nakapromo na. Read my story here. But there are establishments that still give VAT exempt sa mga nakapromo nila which is yun naman ang dapat.

5% Discount 

1. Basic necessities
2. Prime commodities

Note: Purchases should not exceed P1300 a week to avail of the 5% discount. Not all products in the supermarket are included in the 5%, there is a list of basic/prime commodities.
Tip: Don’t forget your booklet to avail of the 5% discount.

Other Benefits 

1. Educational assistance
2. Continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by GSIS, SSS and Pag-ibig.
3. Express lanes for PWD in all commercial and government establishments.
4. Protection against verbal and non-verbal ridicule and vilification.

First Offense: Fine not less than 50,000 not more than 100,000 and/or 6 months to two years imprisonment.

For any subsequent violation, a fine not less than P100,000 but not exceeding P200000 or imprisonment for not less than two years but not more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court.

I know some people who are qualified for PWD ID but they don’t want to get one kasi ayaw nila malabel na may disability sila. Well, in my case, sayang ang benefits.

Some benefits that I know na meron sa ibang city or municipal 

1. Free parking
2. Free movie
3. DFA Courtesy Lane when you apply or renew a passport.
Read: How to Renew Passport via DFA Courtesy Lane
4. Free Terminal Fee at all ports owned and operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) nationwide.

After 6 months, PDAO staff went to our house to update my information. They asked for my PWD ID and nagfill-out ulit sila ng form for me. They even asked for my ID pictures, I told them that I don't have 1x1 pictures and kakaapply ko lang last December. Pumayag naman and pagrenew ko na lang daw yung picture. Feeling ko vineverify din nila kung resident nila yung nag-apply.

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