House bill seeks lifetime validity of PWD IDs

A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to grant persons with permanent disabilities a lifetime PWD ID card.

Cagayan de Oro City Representative Lordan Suan filed House Bill 8440 after consultations with his PWD constituents.

“A lifetime ID card for people with disabilities has the potential to significantly better the lives of many individuals,” Suan said.

If passed into law, the National Council on Disability Affairs shall issue the implementing rules and regulations after consulting with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and other concerned government agencies and stakeholders.

At present, PWD IDs are renewed every three years.

PWDs are granted 20% discount on medicine, hospital, diagnostics, and laboratory fees; hotels, restaurants, entertainment centers; and domestic and sea travel.

They are also exempted from 12% value-added tax (VAT) and have a 5% discount on prime and basic commodities. —Tina Panganiban-Perez/KBK, GMA Integrated News