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Opinion

Unified and inclusive PWD ID system

TOWARDS JUSTICE - Emmeline Aglipay-Villar - The Philippine Star

The proliferation of fake persons with disabilities (PWD) identification cards (IDs) has been causing consternation among both establishments and legitimate PWDs. These IDs were issued to make it easier for PWDs to claim the rights and entitlements that they are due under the law in order to help offset their costs and difficulties in other areas of their daily lives which are caused by their disabilities. However, unscrupulous individuals exploit these fake IDs to illegally avail of the benefits intended for genuine PWDs, such as the 20 percent discount on goods and services and the exemption from Value Added Tax.

Some of these false claimants will simply shrug and claim this is a victimless crime – surely, if these establishments can give discounts to PWDs, one or two more couldn’t hurt. But this kind of attitude misses the point drastically. Recent data from the BIR indicate such fraudulent claims have resulted in approximately P88 billion in revenue losses – hardly a case of “couldn’t hurt.”

Moreover, aside from the establishments and the government, these scams also victimize legitimate PWDs. It is difficult enough to face the hard facts of one’s own disability, to identify as a PWD given the stigma it carries, without the proof of this identity now being subject to doubt and enhanced scrutiny from establishments because of the proliferation of fake PWD ID cards. This is particularly true of those with disabilities that are not readily visible, but which are nonetheless real and debilitating. Remember that PWD IDs can be issued to those without visible disabilities, as all that is required is the presence of permanent disabilities caused by one or more of the following conditions: speech impairment, learning disability, intellectual disability, mental disability, visual disability, psychosocial disability, physical disability, deaf and hard-of-hearing, cancer and rare diseases.

Mental or psychological disabilities will not be visible, and in an environment of distrust they will be the first to be subjected to the suspicion of establishments in order to claim the rights that are due them – if they even bother to assert themselves instead of simply waiving their rights. To admit a disability, particularly a mental or psychological one, is not easy, and if faced with a need to “prove” that disability, beyond the mere presentation of an ID, a substantial number will prefer to waive their rights instead.

It is the duty of the State to prevent such a wrong from occurring, and to ensure that the measures it has advanced to help those with special needs are actually enjoyed by those with special needs. The basic step to guaranteeing this is through the use of an ID card system, but as is quite apparent from the current decentralized PWD ID system, this can be prone to abuse. Since the PWD IDs are different in every local government unit, it becomes very difficult for establishments to verify the authenticity of the IDs.

It is imperative then that the State improve the systems surrounding the PWD IDs by developing a unified system that prevents fraud and misuse, streamlines the verification process and strengthens the data management. But in the process of fortifying it against frauds and forgeries, it must not be rendered inaccessible to PWDs themselves and must be inclusive.

In the issuance of the PWD IDs, it is important that registration is accessible to those with a wide variety of disabilities. Online access is important to lessen travel costs and improve access for those with mobility disabilities, but there must also be allowances made for those unable to readily access internet sites, such as those with visual impairments. This can be in the form of physical locations for registration, or regular visitations.

The technology adopted for registration must also be inclusive and flexible. Eye scans may be difficult for those blinded by cataracts, fingerprints would be impossible for those without hands – hence any biometrics must be multi-modal, with the system allowing itself to adjust to the capacities of each PWD. Facial recognition can be explored as a biometric feature of the PWD ID system.

The criteria for credentialing a PWD must be clear and made widely and publicly available. This must go hand in hand with educational campaigns meant to decrease the stigma of the “disability” label and encourage PWDs to register.

To facilitate the use and verification of the IDs, it is my position that there must be a unified database system for PWDs to which the ID information is simultaneously uploaded upon registration and, upon verification and approval of the application, a quick-response code (QR code) can automatically be generated and an electronic ID can immediately be issued. A simple QR code-based and a radio frequency identification (RFID)-based system would make interactions between ID holders and establishments frictionless. The establishments offering discounts or tax exemptions would have a reliable method to validate the authenticity of the IDs and they would be able to match the physical appearance to the registered data.

Of course, a unified online database, likely cloud-based, does present a juicier target for hackers and cybersecurity will be of the utmost importance. But the alternative to a unified online database is one which would undermine the very purpose of the IDs to stand as immediate and unimpeachable proof that the holder is entitled to the rights and benefits of a PWD. A unified database would enable more efficient monitoring, tracking and reporting of PWD programs and benefits, and the aggregated data could also direct policy decisions of the government.

Finally, there are proposals that the PWD IDs should be of lifetime validity. This makes sense as the PWD IDs are, by definition, released only to those with permanent disabilities. However, it should be considered that the system should be able to monitor whether or not the PWD ID card holder is still living, otherwise it could still be fraudulently used. There are also cases where there are temporary disabilities that need to be considered.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Council on Disability Affairs are now working to develop this unified and inclusive PWD ID system. It may be that not all the components of this ideal system are possible under current laws and regulations. But these are, of course, subject to amendment and we must not hesitate to change existing legal framework if it will make a more efficient, more effective and more dependable PWD ID system available. Our countrymen deserve no less.

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