CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. has called out the Department of Social Welfare and Development for “prompt and decisive action” on what it called “widespread misuse” of persons with disability (PWD) identification cards, particularly in the restaurant industry.
In a letter to National Council on Disability Affairs chair and DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian last week, PamCham chair Rene G. Romero and president Atty. Paul L. Yusi, the abuse of PWD IDs “not only undermines the rightful privileges of legitimate PWDs but is also inflicting severe financial strain on the restaurant industry—an industry already struggling to recover from economic challenges.”
“Business owners are already reporting significant revenue losses due to fraudulent claims, and without immediate government intervention, this situation could spiral further out of control,” they said, warning that prolonged inaction on the issue “risks the sustainability of many restaurants, which may ultimately be forced to shut down, resulting in job losses and a negative impact on the local economy.”
The business leaders put forward a four-point agenda of action for consideration of the DSWD and the local government units to address the abuse of PWD IDs:
- Stricter Issuance and Verification of PWD IDs – Ensure that only individuals who meet the legal and medical criteria receive PWD IDs. A thorough audit of existing IDs, along with the implementation of biometric verification or other secure measures, should be considered.
- Enforcement of Penalties for Fraud – Those found using fraudulent PWD IDs should be held accountable in accordance with the law. We request strict enforcement of penalties against individuals who falsify documents or misrepresent themselves as PWDs to claim benefits.
- Public Awareness and Business Protection – Initiate a widespread information campaign to educate the public and business sector about the proper use of PWD IDs, the penalties for fraud, and the importance of protecting the rights of genuine PWDs.
- Clear Reporting and Complaint Mechanism – Establish a government-backed, transparent reporting system where businesses and concerned citizens can report suspected abuses of PWD IDs, ensuring swift investigation and action.
“The responsibility to protect both legitimate PWD beneficiaries and law-abiding businesses lies with the government, and we strongly urge immediate action to rectify this situation,” said the PamCham officials.
Copies of the letter were also sent to Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor S. Remulla, Pampanga Gov. Dennis “Delta” G. Pineda, the Pampanga provincial board, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Enunina Mangio, and PCCI Area VP Atty. Amalia Cayanan. Punto News Team
