What PWDs think of able-bodied people using 'fake' PWD IDs

Arjay Sibug feels bad whenever he has to ask a favor due to a problem in his spinal cord, so you can imagine the pain he feels when he hears about people who can walk and go to work but fraudulently enjoy benefits meant for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

"Ang hirap po, sobra, kasi hindi ka makalakad. 'Yung gusto mong bilhin hindi mo mabili, nagpapautos ka na lang... ganu'n kahirap. Sobrang hirap," he says in an episode of Stand for Truth.

To help people like Arjay, the law provides a 20 percent discount and a value-added tax exemption for all certified PWDs.

Recently, a measure has been filed at the House of Representatives calling for an investigation into the scheme he referred to as "PWD ID for sale."

In House Resolution 454, ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Go Yap said he received reports where individuals fake their disability in order to get a PWD ID and enjoy discounts and privileges.

For now, Yap is giving these fraudulent individuals a chance to turn in their "fake" PWD cards before Congress passes the law that would penalize it.

"Ang layunin namin dito sa inquiry namin, unang-una, lagyan ho ng pangil yung batas. Pano ang pangil? Lagyan ho natin ng imprisonment yung mga taong mahuhuling gumagawa ng pekeng sakit para magkaroon ng PWD ID," he said.

But what do actual PWDs think about able people enjoying the benefits meant for disabled persons?

Arjay, who is unable to get out of bed, said, "Kung patuloy nilang gagawin yan, kawawa ho naman kami, lalo na't kami disabled talaga, sila, nakakapagtrabaho, 'yung para samin na benepisyo, ibigay nila," he said.

Stand For Truth also asked Cesar Rivera, for whom walking is a daily struggle.

"'Yung PWD (ID), ibigay naman sa tamang tao na may kapansanan, hindi 'yung bibigyan ng iID na kunyari may kapansanan pero, ayun, ginagamit lang nila para maka-menos sila," he said.

—Margaret Claire Layug/JCB, GMA News