By Emme Rose Santiagudo
The head of the Iloilo City Person with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) was temporarily sent back to her mother unit after the controversial issuance of the office of a PWD (identification card) ID to a foreign national.
Mayor Jerry Treñas announced on Monday that PDAO Head Blesilda Mabilog was relieved from her post and was sent back to the office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) where she is actually assigned.
This is after the mayor discovered that the office issued a PWD ID to a foreign national which is considered illegal.
“I was disgusted and disappointed because ang ini nga mga privileges like PWD and senior citizens para lang sa Filipino netizens. I think it is very elementary for those handling the office to understand that amo na ginpabalik ko siya sa mother unit,” he lamented on Monday.
When asked for her reaction regarding the issue, Mabilog refused to comment and said that she respects the decision of the mayor.
According to the mayor, a private hospital in the city sent a letter informing him that a foreign national wanted to avail of the privileges of the PWD ID.
“Nagsulat ang isa ka hospital sa aton nga may isa ka Amerikano ginapilit magavail sang PWD card which was issued last December 26, 2019.Ginapaimebestigaran ko pa kung papano na na-issue,” he said.
Treñas said his decision was backed up by the City Legal Office (CLO) which reiterated that only Filipino citizens are entitled to the benefits of the PWD card.
“After a study of the applicable rules and regulations of the matter, it is the opinion of this office that Mr. Lyndon John Guerin, a foreign national should not be allowed to avail of the 20 percent PWD discount hat is provided for under Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of persons with disability,” the CLO opinion said.
CLO emphasized that personnel and staff of PDA should not issue a PWD ID to non-Filipino citizens and should be prudent enough to check the applicant’s qualifications and proof of entitlement lest they face the necessary administrative and criminal consequences in consonance with the provisions of the law.
“The benefits and privileges indicated in the act are available to persons with disability who are Filipino citizens, upon submission of the following as proof of his/her entitlement thereto,” CLO added.
Based on the classification of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), those that can avail of the standard identification card for PWDs are those with the following impairment: physical/orthopedic disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech impairment, intellectual disability, and psychosocial disability (includes people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, long-term recurring depression, nervous breakdown, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and other long-term recurring mental or behavioral problems).
PWDs granted with the card are entitled to a 20 percent discount and 12 percent VAT exemption in the hotels, restaurants, cinemas, medicines, and transportation fees.
Iloilo City is home to 7,939 PWDs as of 2018.
After what happened, the mayor said he will look into renewing PWD cards in the city to monitor the possible suspicious issuances of the office.
“We have to ask Ilonggos that we will renew all those PWD cards for a certain period para ma-protect man ang integrity nila,” he said.
