Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
‘Quezon City

20th Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3931

Introduced by Representative Reynante U. Arrogancia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis the policy of the State to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and promote
their welfare and development. Republic Act No 7277, as amended, provides for mandate the
promotion of the welfare and rights of the persons with disabilities. In response to the evolving
conditions in protecting the vulnerable sector in society, this bill seeks to further amend RA
7277, as amended, to include financial assistance to marginalized persons with disabilities and
the protection of the benefits through the PWD Identification Card.

‘The World Health Organization has reported that | in 6 people have a disability. In
the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority cited the 2016 result of the National
Disability Prevalence Survey (NDPS) stating that the disability prevalence in the Philippines
is 12% in the population of 15 years of age and older. Disability presents a set of challenges
to the persons with disabilities and their families. The challenges range from access to health
care, education, and economic prospects. People with disabilities are in need of additional
support to improve their mobility, access to learning institutions, and medical interventions.
Marginalized Disabled Person as defined in RA 7277 lack access to rehabilitative services,
with no means or livelihood or whose income fall below the poverty threshold. Providing
financial assistance to marginalized disabled persons will assist them to access basic services.

Another recurring issue in the implementation of the law is the fraudulent use of
inauthentic PWD ID Cards. It has been reported that the country has lost P8.2 billion worth
of taxes in 2023 because of fake Persons with Disabilities ID. Furthermore, the DSWD has
estimated that 8.5 million people are using fake PWD IDs and only 1.8 million are using
legitimate PWD IDs. The staggering number of unwarranted discounts given to fake PWD
ID holders have a long-term adverse impact in the business sector and the economy in the
country. To address the critical issue of counterfeit person with disability identification card,
this bill proposes to provide for PWD ID with security features, its period of validity and penal
provisions for those who utilize fake PWD ID.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

'YNANTE U. ANCIA
3" District of Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

20th Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No 393.1

Introduced by Representative Reynante U. Arrogancia

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY” AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Chapter 8, Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7277 as amended by Republic Act
No. 9442, is further amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to the following:

XXX

“(L) A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO ONE THOUSAND PESOS
(P1000.00) TO AUGMENT THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE, MEDICAL AND OTHER
NEEDS FOR MARGINALIZED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 4 (K) OF RA No. 7277: PROVIDED, THAT THE MARGINALIZED
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY WHO ARE RECIPIENTS OF SIMILAR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING
MONETARY ASSISTANCE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND UNDER THE
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM, OR 4PS, SHALL NO
LONGER BE ENTITLED TO THIS STIPEND;

(M) THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS (NCDA),
SHALL PRESCRIBE A_ UNIFIED PERSON WITH DISABILITIES
IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT WILL CONTAIN SECURITY FEATURES TO
ENSURE THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE IDENTIFICATION CARD TO BE
ISSUED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS OR THE NCDA.


THE PWD ID SHALL BE VALID FOR TEN (10) YEARS AND THREE (3)
YEARS FOR PERSONS WITH PERMANENT DISABILITY AND TEMPORARY
DISABILITY, RESPECTIVELY SUBJECT TO RENEWAL AND WITHOUT
PREJUDICE TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 32 (A) (8) OF REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 10754. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) SHALL ISSUE THE
GUIDELINES AND LIST OF THE DISABILITY CATEGORIZED AS
PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY DISABILITY EVERY TEN (10) YEARS.”

SECTION 2. Section 32 of Republic Act 7277, as amended by Republic Act No. 10754, is
further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to:
XXX
(€) Provision of express lanes x x x

The abovementioned privileges are available only to PWD who are Filipino citizens upon
submission of any of the following as proof of his/her entitlement thereto:

@ xxx
(i) xxx
Gii) Transportation discount fare Identification Card (ID) by the National Couneit
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON
DISABILITY AFFAIRS (NCDA).

The privileges may not be claimed if the PWD claims a higher discount as may be granted
by the commercial establishment and/or under other existing laws or in combination with
other discount program/s.

THE FOLLOWING ACTS SHALL BE PROHIBITED:

A. FOR A PERSON WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO FRAUDULENTLY
MISREPRESENT AS A PERSON WITH DISABILITY AND UTILIZE THE
PWD ID TO AVAIL OF THE PRIVILEGES GRANTED IN THIS ACT;

B. TO ASSIST A PERSON WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO FRAUDULENTLY
OBTAIN A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES IDENTIFICATION CARD; OR

C. FALSIFY OR FORGE A_ PERSON’ WITH DISABILITIES
IDENTIFICATION CARD.


SECTION 3. Section 46 of Republic Act No. 7277 as amended by Republic Act No. 9442,
is further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 46. Penal Clause. — xxx xxx

(E) ANY PERSON WHO FALSIFIES OR FORGES A PERSON WITH
DISABILITY IDENTIFICATION CARD AS STATED IN THIS ACT SHALL
SUFFER THE PENALTY PROVIDED UNDER ARTICLE 171 OR ARTICLE 172
OF TITLE IV, BOOK I OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED.

XXX

SECTION 4. \mplementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), in coordination
with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of
Health (DOH), and other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for its proper and effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations of the DSWD of the year following
its enactment into law and every year thereafter.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provision hereof are not affected and shall remain in full
force and effect.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations, and
other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. ‘his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,