Iloilo City & Bacolod City, Philippines – To combat the rising issue of fake Persons with Disability (PWD) ID cards, local governments in Iloilo City and Bacolod City have implemented new security measures, including security stickers and QR codes.
In Iloilo City, over 15,643 PWD IDs now bear security stickers, following complaints from restaurant owners about fraudulent IDs being used to claim discounts. Since 2023, authorities have confiscated 841 fake PWD cards.
“Mayor Jerry Treñas’ executive order mandates that establishments should not honor PWD IDs issued by the Iloilo City Government without a security label,” said Joy Fantilaga, the city’s spokesperson.
Similarly, Bacolod City has issued over 17,000 PWD IDs with QR codes to verify legitimacy. However, business owners continue to struggle with counterfeit IDs, many of which allegedly come from outside the city.
Restaurant staff expressed frustration over the issue, with a cashier named Kim saying, “If you are a normal person, you should be fair. Don’t lie.” Meanwhile, a waiter named Vincent added, “Fake PWD and senior citizen IDs hurt our businesses due to the big discounts.”
The Bacolod City Government is now working with sectoral groups to strengthen anti-fraud measures and protect businesses from losses caused by counterfeit PWD ID holders.