Quezon city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) are moving forward with the nationwide rollout of the unified identification (ID) system for persons with disabilities (PWD). The initiative aims to standardize registration, strengthen verification, and ensure the protection of persons with disabilities across the Philippines.
According to Philippines News Agency, NCDA spokesperson Walter Alava emphasized during a media forum at the DSWD Central Office that this initiative is in the rollout stage to enhance accessibility, ensure accurate records, and protect the rights of PWDs in the Philippines. He highlighted a Senate inquiry from last year that estimated a loss of PHP88.2 billion in revenue due to the widespread issuance of fake PWD IDs.
The previous processes followed by local government units (LGUs) resulted in validation gaps, incomplete records, and the distribution of fraudulent IDs. In response, the NCDA and DSWD established a unified ID system to address these issues by harmonizing nationwide registration, verification, and database management.
This initiative supports Republic Act No. 10070, known as the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) Law, and aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). Alava noted that in partnership with VISCION Technology Inc., a unified ID system was created to ensure more reliable and efficient delivery of benefits and services.
The rollout is being implemented in three major phases. The first phase began in August 2025 with pre-pilot testing in five selected LGUs: the Cities of Manila, Pasay, and Muntinlupa; San Miguel in Bulacan; and Sta. Rosa in Laguna. This phase was designed to test the workflow, validation processes, and required data fields, and to identify system improvements.
The second phase focused on capacity building for 35 LGUs, with a training session conducted on Sept. 25. This session focused on encoding, verification, system usage, and integrating improvements. The third phase, involving regional rollouts, started in October and will continue through November 2025 across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, with 537 LGUs having completed their training.
The unified ID card includes a unique QR code that directs establishments to a verification portal. It supports both digital and printed identification, with printing options provided by the LGUs.
Despite progress, challenges such as varying LGU readiness, staff capacity differences, and the need for personnel to manage data entry and verification have emerged. Alava mentioned issues like internet connectivity problems in remote areas, outdated devices, and differing digital literacy levels among registrants. To address access concerns, the system features offline registration capabilities.
Additionally, the NCDA is collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to integrate the unified ID system into the eGovPH App after the rollout is complete.
