Manila: Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has voiced his support for the National Council on Disability Affairs’ (NCDA) initiative to implement a unified identification system for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The proposed system aims to curtail fraudulent issuance of PWD IDs to unqualified individuals and uphold the provisions of Republic Act 10754, which protects the benefits and privileges granted to PWDs.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pimentel emphasized the necessity of utilizing government resources efficiently to achieve this goal. He advocated for the use of technology, highlighting the significant investments made by the government in computerization. “Use computers. The government has been spending billions on computerization. Dapat maramdaman naman ang gamit ng mga ito,” Pimentel stated, stressing the importance of leveraging technological advancements.

The lawmaker from Mindanao also noted the urgency of adopting the unified system to safeguard the integrity of PWD benefits and ensure fair access for qualified individuals. He remarked, “Hindi dapat abusuhin ang mga benepisyo na para lamang sa mga may tunay na kapansanan. Unified PWD ID system ay mahalaga upang maayos na maipatupad ang batas at matulungan ang mga tunay na nangangailangan.”

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who chairs the NCDA, echoed Pimentel’s sentiments, stating that the unified ID system would enhance efficiency in delivering basic services to the vulnerable sector through digitalization. The standardized ID, along with its digital counterpart, aims to prevent misuse by unscrupulous individuals using fake ID cards.

Gatchalian highlighted the government’s focus on utilizing technology to address system inefficiencies. “Alam ninyo, ang Pangulo natin lagi niya sinasabi gamitin ang teknolohiya para ma-solve natin ‘yung mga inefficiency ng current na system,” he mentioned. The DSWD and NCDA, in collaboration with local government units and their respective Persons with Disability Affairs Offices, will manage the creation of the unified ID system.

The implementation includes real-time encoding at local government units to produce real-time online IDs, which can later be requested as physical IDs and mailed by the DSWD. The unified ID system for persons with disabilities is scheduled to be pilot-tested from January to June this year.