Hundreds of joggers and persons with disability participate in the “Walk, Run, and Roll” fun run  at the University of the Philippines Diliman on July 20, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA – The House Committee on Persons with Disabilities approved on Tuesday an unnumbered substitute bill seeking to extend the validity period of identification cards issued to persons with disabilities (PWDs) while also prescribing penalties.

The proposed measure seeks to extend the validity of IDs of those with permanent disability to 10 years, while those with temporary disability be valid for two years.

Persons with temporary disability may renew their IDs subject to reassessment of the holder's medical condition by a licensed practitioner.

Under the National Council for Disability Affairs Administrative Order No. 001-2021, PWD IDs are valid for up to five years.

"While the periodic review provision is aimed at preventing system abuse, it places an undue burden on individuals with disabilities. Many find the frequent need to renew their ID inconvenient and unnecessary, especially for individuals whose disability status is not likely to change over some short period," San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora said.

"The unnumbered substitute bill seeks to address these concerns by extending the validity periods of ID cards and making corresponding adjustments to provisions concerning penalties and the issuance process. The bill aims to provide lasting relief to PWDs while ensuring fraud and abuse are prevented," she added.

Zamora said members of the technical working group agreed to the extension to a 10-year validity period at the end of the four roundtable discussions.

The proposed measure also strengthens penalties for fraudulent issuance or misuse of PWD IDs. The bill prescribes a fine worth P50,000 but not more than P100,000 or imprisonment of six months up to one year.

Other key provisions in the measure are periodic check-ins every three years for monitoring of long-term ID holders, free issuance and replacement of PWD IDs and the inclusion of refugees and stateless persons with disabilities as eligible beneficiaries.

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Restaurants and establishments have repeatedly sounded alarm over the proliferation of people using fake PWD cards, resulting in losses.

Under the law, cardholders are entitled to a 20 percent discount on some goods and services and a 12 percent value-added tax exemption.

Last month, the Department of Justice said in a legal opinion that establishments not granting PWDs discounts and privileges is a violation of provisions in Republic Act No. 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities and its implementing rules and regulations.

The five-page legal opinion dated January 27 was signed by Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.

"Denial or withholding of PWD benefits and privileges due to unverified PWD ID card or when the verification results to "no records found" in the registry would undoubtedly defeat the purpose of the law," the opinion read.

"Such denial and withholding of PWD benefits and privileges by reason of unverified PWD ID card constitutes a violation of the rights of PWDs to avail of the said benefits and privileges," it further stated.

DOJ likewise said the law and its IRR does not require verification of the PWD ID card before being granted benefits, nor can the verification be imposed as a condition.

The legal opinion was issued after National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Officer-in-Charge Deputy Executive Director Danny Victa asked for clarification if establishments or agencies can deny and withhold discounts and privileges because it cannot verify the authenticity of the PWD ID.

Victa also asked if such denial would constitute a violation of existing laws and IRR related to the rights and privileges of PWDs.

Meantime, the House panel also tackled House Bill No. 3163 or An Act Institutionalizing a National Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centers for Persons with Disabilities through the Establishment of Accessible PWD Rehabilitation Centers in Every Province, City and other Strategic Areas.

The committee moved to consolidate the measure with House Bill No. 2049 and for the existing technical working group to come up with a substitute bill.

The House panel likewise approved a motion to create a TWG to study and enhance bills seeking exemptions in payment of parking fees and a coding scheme for PWDs.

House Bills No. 4446, 7635 and 9847 all seek to exempt PWDs from being charged parking fees in commercial establishments and government buildings, while the latter measure includes a provision for exemption to the number coding scheme.