Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the processing of identification cards for persons with disability (PWDs) suspended over the irregular issuance of PWD cards, which grants discounts for purchases and services, to a well-to-do family.
Belmonte said the suspension of the card issuance will last until today (Friday) to give the city government enough time to craft new guidelines in a bid to eliminate abuses.
“We will use the two days to come up with the needed safeguards to ensure that only those deserving get the PWD cards,” she said.
“Our protocols will be revisited and needed controls will be placed so the system will not be abused by greedy and opportunistic individuals,” the mayor added.
Earlier, Belmonte ordered a probe of the issuance of PWD IDs to unqualified individuals after receiving a report that six immediate members of a well-off family managed to acquire the cards in 2018 without submitting any of the mandatory requirements.
The six were issued PWD cards despite not being qualified under Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability. They supposedly paid P2,000 for each card.
Belmonte said the culprit behind the issuance of PWD cards was already identified and was already issued a show-cause order.
“The person behind the issuance of the ID card will be given 72 hours to explain why he shouldn’t be held administratively and criminally liable,” city legal officer Niño Casimiro said.
The employee would face a grave misconduct case with a penalty of dismissal from service.