The town of Bakun, Benguet has set guidelines for the release of persons with disability identification cards for those with chronic illness.
Under Ordinance 02-2023, any resident of the municipality with permanent disability due to chronic illness can apply for a PWD ID card.
“Disability due to chronic illness, a group of health conditions that last a long time, may get slowly over time or may become permanent or it may lead to death. It may cause changes to the body and it will certainly affect the person’s quality of life,” the ordinance stated.
Chronic illness are conditions of long duration and generally slow progression that cannot, at present, be cured but can be controlled by medication, therapies, and other modes of aggressive treatments and may become permanent and may lead to death.
This includes cardiovascular diseases, all types of cancers, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease
cystic fibrosis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other life-threatening and debilitating illnesses.
The ordinance aims to provide guide to all local government officials, licensed physicians, health officers, and concerned government agencies in the issuance of PWD ID card for the privileges and incentives provided in Republic Act 10754, which extends the benefits and privileges of PWDs under the Magna Carta for PWDs.
The Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) under the mayor’s office through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development unit shall implement the guidelines for the issuance of the PWD ID card.
Requirements for those who would like to apply are a recent ID picture, one valid ID, and medical certificate issued by licensed private or government physician to confirm the disability, and PWD registration form.
The requirements must be submitted to the PDAO under the mayor’s office or the punong barangay in their respective areas, which shall assess the applicants. The PWD registration form shall also be available in these offices.
In case of more than one impairment, the disability should be the most identifiable and long-term, or the combination of both.
The ID shall contain the following data: ID number, name of the PWD, complete address, date of birth, disability: type of chronic illness. The Department of Health shall maintain the system and database in coordination with the local government.
The PWD ID card for chronic illness shall be valid for a lifetime and free of charge. In case of loss or damage, a P50 fee shall be charged for its replacement.
The ordinance shall aid in the monitoring of the appropriate agency on the use of the PWD ID card, protect establishments from illegitimate claims or fraudulent practices on the use of the PWDID card, and ensure PWDs could easily avail the privileges by providing the establishments a way to immediately identify the beneficiaries.
The measure, unanimously approved by the municipal council, is under review by the committee of social services of the provincial board. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 30, 2024
