How to get your PWD ID card

Carlisle has been diagnosed as gradually blind since he was five months old. By that time, I was not actually aware that he is already entitled to have a PWD ID card. Part of me also considers him of having no disability at all. As a mother, it kills me to know that he is already blind. But lately, as our expenses grow rapidly, I’ve decided to accept his condition, and get the benefits that he should get.

Every month, here’s what I spend with Carlisle:

                MEDICINES – P1,195

                CHECK-UP – P3,280

                                Pediatrician – P500

                                Pedia-Neurologist – P500

                                Pedia-Endocrinologist – P600

                                Pedia-Nephrologist – P600

                                Pedia-Rehab – P880

                                Neuro-Surgeon – P200

                PHYSICAL THERAPY – P3,520

                                Per Session – P440

                LABORATORY FEES – P3,000 – P5,000

                TOTAL EXPENSES EVERY MONTH (HOSPITAL/MEDICINES) : P10,995 – P12,995

Here’s how you can get your or someone’s PWD ID card as per National Council on Disability Affairs, revised as of March 10, 2008.

Who are qualified?

Any person with permanent disability or his/her caregiver can get an application form from any of the following registration centers:

• Office of the Mayor
• Office of the Barangay Captain
• NCDA or its regional counterpart 
• DSWD Offices 
• Participating organizations with memorandum of agreements with the Department of Health

What do I need?

Below are the things that you need when you’re applying:

• Fully accomplished application form 
• Two 1″ x 1″ picture with his or her signature or thumbmark behind 
• Clinical abstract duly signed by any licensed private or government clinic or hospital-based physician

As per my son, we brought a signed clinical abstract from his pedia-neurologist.

How do I apply?

The applicant brings application form and clinical abstract to the nearest City of Municipal Health Office or its satellite offices or stations at the barangay. In our case, I and Carlisle went to Quezon City Hall’s Social Services Development Department (SSDD). See the full list of issuing offices here.

The receiving health office shall screen and perform the necessary medical and other allied medical assessment they deem necessary at no cost to the applicant for the accuracy of the entries with the actual and permanency of the condition of the PWD. If PWD is not ambulatory, the receiving health officer shall do a home visit to validate the entries and disability. If entries of the application form and clinical abstract match the actual health condition of the PWD, the form with all attachments goes to the Health Officer of the Main City or Municipal Health Center.

The City or Municipal Health Officer shall fill up the certification form which shall be designed, reproduced and archived by the City of Municipal Health Office and shall contain but not limited to the following minimum information.

• First Name, Middle Initial and Last Name of Applicant 
• PWD Diagnosis Complete 
• Address 
• Birthday 
• Gender 
• Father’s Name 
• Mother’s Name 
• Control Number 
• Physician’s signature over Printed Name and License Number

The City or Municipal Health Officer shall affix the control number on the certification form and application form and sign the certificate of disability. The City of Municipal Health Officer shall then enter the duly signed certificate of disability to the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities that can be loaded from the DOH National Office Website. The applicant or care-giver shall bring the duly approved application form and certificate of disability to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office or NCDA for issuance of the identification card.

What if I am declined of the application?

Applications that were disapproved shall be advised regarding the deficiencies and shall be allowed to reapply until complied. The nearest local Social Welfare Office or NCDA may screen applicants further and require a social case study if warranted. As to the disability that is not apparent, the establishments may ask from the PWD additional documents as proofs as to his/her disability.

How long is my card valid?

The ID card issued to the PWD shall be valid for three years only for the purpose of issuing identification cards. The first issuance shall be for free. While its renewal due to expiration, loss or damage, the issuing authorities, Mayor, Barangay Captain and NCDA shall charge minimal fee for the new ID card.

What are the benefits that I can get?

Here are the benefits one can get if they have the PWD ID card according to Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and for other purposes.”

• Persons with disability are entitled to  at least 20% discount to the following:

1. all establishments relative to the utilization of all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments; restaurants and recreation centers for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability
2. admission fees charged by the theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability
3. purchase of medicines in all drugstores for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability
4. medical and dental services including diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not limited to x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all government facilities, subject to guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH)
5. medical and dental services including diagnostic and laboratory fees, and professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in coordination with the PHILHEALTH
6. fare for domestic air and sea travel for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability
7. public railways, skyways and bus fare for the exclusive use and enjoyment of persons with disability

• Persons with disability are entitled to five percent discount on groceries like basic necessities and prime commodities.
• Persons with disability will have educational assistance for them to pursue primary, secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, as well as vocational or technical education, in both public and private schools, through the provision of scholarships, grants, financial aids, subsidies and other incentives to qualified persons with disability, including support for books, learning materials, and uniform allowance to the extent feasible: provided, that persons with disability shall meet minimum admission requirements.
• Persons with disability will have the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), and PAG-IBIG.
• Persons with disability will have express lanes in all commercial and government establishments; in the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them.

Cranio kid's PWD ID card.

Since we already have our PWD ID card, our expenses might go down to:

                MEDICINES – P956

                CHECK-UP – P2,620                 

                                Pediatrician – P400

                                Pedia-Neurologist – P400

                                Pedia-Endocrinologist – P480

                                Pedia-Nephrologist – P480

                                Pedia-Rehab – P700

                                Neuro-Surgeon – P160

                PHYSICAL THERAPY – P2,880

                                Per Session – P360

                LABORATORY FEES – P2,400 – P4,000

                DISCOUNTED TOTAL EXPENSES EVERY MONTH (HOSPITAL/MEDICINES):

                                P8,900 – P10,456

With the PWD ID card, we will be able to save at least P2,000 on his hospital expenses only! What more on the basic commodities, fares, and all? I would really be a great help for us two.

Want to know more about your PWD ID? For more inquiries, you can call the National Council on Disability Affairs at (632) 9298879, email council@ncda.gov.ph or visit http://www.ncda.gov.ph.