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February 3, 2025 | 4:25pm
In this July 22, 2012 file photo, persons with disability use wheel chairs to race as they take part in the Manila Run 2012 in Manila.
AFP / Noel Celis, file
MANILA, Philippines — If you're a person with a disability (PWD) in the Philippines, you might have faced situations where establishments deny you discounts or privileges because they can't immediately verify your PWD ID. Is this legal? The Department of Justice (DOJ) says it’s not.
Here’s what you need to know:
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What does the law say?
The DOJ points to Republic Act (RA) 10754, the law that grants benefits and privileges to PWDs. According to this law, all you need to access these benefits is a valid PWD ID issued by your local government—whether it’s from your city mayor, municipal mayor or barangay captain.
The law doesn’t require establishments to verify your ID before granting you discounts. In fact, the DOJ emphasizes that the language of the law is clear: just showing your PWD ID is enough.
Why is this important?
RA 10754 is designed to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and help them integrate into society.
Denying benefits because an ID can’t be verified defeats the purpose of this law.
The DOJ also points out that registries used by establishments to check IDs are incomplete, so relying on them could unfairly exclude legitimate PWDs.
What are your rights as a PWD?
Under RA 10754, PWDs are entitled to a range of benefits:
- 20% discount on food, medicines, medical services, and even entertainment like movies and concerts.
- Discounts on domestic travel (air, sea, and public transport).
- Priority access through express lanes in all establishments.
Even bulk food orders for personal use are covered under these discounts.
The bigger issue: Fake IDs
The rise of fake PWD IDs has complicated things. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian bared at a Senate hearing that there may be as many as 8.5 million fake IDs in circulation—far more than the 1.89 million officially registered PWDs.
But here’s the thing: while fake IDs are a problem, denying legitimate PWDs their rights because of verification issues isn’t the solution. The DOJ makes it clear that such denials violate the law.
What should establishments do?
Instead of denying benefits outright, establishments should follow the law and respect valid PWD IDs. Efforts to address fake IDs should focus on improving systems like the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities—not penalizing genuine PWDs.
