Government agencies, in partnership with the city government of Santa Rosa, Laguna, formally kicked off the test run of the Unified PWD ID System last August 15.
Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas and heads of concerned local government departments joined officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), D partment of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the orientation and test run of the new Unified PWD ID system.
The program, which was started last August 12, aims to resolve the confusion caused by LGUs issuing their own respective IDs for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The Unified PWD ID system is also seen as a solution to the proliferation of fake PWD IDs, which unscrupulous persons use to take advantage of the 20-percent discount on goods and services mandated for PWDs.
During the launch, personnel of the Persons with Disability Office (PDAO) were given end-to-end demonstrations on the proper encoding of data of PWDs which will be used for issuing their IDs.
Among the security features of the unified PWD ID system is a digital ID that can be accessible via a mobile app or web portal. The digital ID has a QR (quick response) code that can be scanned by business establishments for quick verification.
Persons with disabilities also have the option to present physical IDs which are RFID (radio frequency identification)-enabled PVC (polyvinyl chloride) cards for offline use.
In her message, Arcillas said the launch of the new Unified PWD ID System is also in line with the Santa Rosa City government’s goals of being a “Smart City” where basic services can be delivered faster through technology.
"This partnership will help us streamline identification processes, improve data management, and ensure that every PWD in Santa Rosa can enjoy the benefits and services they deserve," she added.
Santa Rosa City and the town of Pila in Laguna are two of the 35 LGUs around the Philippines who have been chosen for the pilot rollout of the Unified PWD ID system.
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