Manila: The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) is intensifying enhancements to the unified persons with disability (PWD) identification system to address gaps, as it targets full nationwide implementation within the year.

According to Philippines News Agency, during a Bagong Pilipinas interview on Wednesday, NCDA spokesperson Walter Jason Alava said the unified PWD ID has improved since its regional pilot testing across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in August 2025. He mentioned that early challenges encountered during the pilot phase, particularly in system development, data fields, and encoding, are being addressed through continuous upgrades.

Alava noted, "There were many challenges before, especially in our pilot stage, because our system is being developed. But now, our challenges are somewhat fewer, specifically in the system and fields." The system currently includes 14 fields, covering nine types of disabilities, with enhancements aimed at better protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

To date, a total of 572 cities and municipalities nationwide have already registered and have been trained under the system since its rollout. The NCDA aims to expand coverage to more than 1,600 local government units (LGUs) to ensure a single, standardized, and verifiable PWD ID nationwide.

A key feature of the enhanced system is the rollout of physical and digital PWD IDs embedded with quick response (QR) codes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). These advancements enable real-time, 24/7 verification through a portal linked to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), replacing the previous manual verification process.

The absence of a centralized verification system had contributed to the proliferation of fake PWD IDs in previous years. Alava explained that the inclusion of a QR code allows for immediate verification of PWD IDs, providing a reliable solution to this issue.

To ensure inclusivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas lacking internet access, the unified PWD ID system now includes an offline function. This function allows LGUs to encode data without internet access and upload records once connectivity is restored. This feature is expected to be complemented by the government's free public Wi-Fi program.

The NCDA emphasizes strong data privacy and security measures, including restricted access, separate encoder and verifier accounts, and limited data fields to protect the sensitive personal information of PWDs. The unified PWD ID system aims to prevent the proliferation of fake or unverified PWD IDs, which, according to the Senate, caused losses estimated at PHP88.2 billion, and protect the rights and benefits of PWDs, including discounts and other privileges.