To address the widespread misuse of disability benefits, the government is requiring millions of persons with disabilities (PWDs) to register again under a new unified identification system designed to detect fake IDs and protect legitimate beneficiaries. Around 2.9 million holders of valid, unexpired physical PWD IDs must enroll through their local government units (LGUs) as authorities strengthen verification and security measures.
The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) developed the Unified Persons with Disabilities Identification System (UPWDIS) following a Dec. 2024 Senate inquiry into fake PWD IDs. The new cards will carry unique identification numbers and QR codes, allowing establishments to verify legitimate cardholders.
Applicants with non-apparent disabilities must submit medical certificates signed by licensed physicians or specialists, while those with apparent disabilities no longer need disability certificates. Existing ID holders do not automatically need new medical documents, although authorities may verify questionable records.
The issue had reached Ombudsman Boying Remulla, who met representatives of around 1,000 restaurant businesses on Nov. 3. Restaurant owners raised concerns about fraudulent PWD IDs and the financial burden of providing discounts to questionable cardholders.
“Let’s make a compendium of the problems that we are facing,” Remulla calls for documentation of recurring business complaints and government regulatory problems.
A Dec. 2024 Senate inquiry estimated that 8.54 million individuals used illegitimate PWD IDs, compared with 1.85 million registered PWDs at the time. Senator Win Gatchalian also estimated ₱88.2 billion in government revenue losses in 2023 from fraudulent discounts and tax exemptions.
However, the NCDA has clarified that these estimates do not establish the actual nationwide number of fake IDs. The agency says it currently has no mechanism to determine the exact number in circulation.
