Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) is strongly encouraging persons with disabilities (PWDs) to register in its unified digital identification system to streamline records in a secure database.
Applicants may coordinate directly with their local government unit’s Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) or Social Welfare and Development Office for the registration and issuance of the Unified Digital PWD ID.
First-time applicants with non-apparent disabilities and those without existing records in the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities (PRPWD) must submit general registration requirements along with a Certificate of Disability issued by a licensed physician or specialist.
Current holders of valid, unexpired physical PWD IDs do not need to secure a new certificate; they are only required to submit the general requirements.
Upon successful registration, applicants will receive their digital IDs immediately. A physical card can be printed upon request.
The new digital PWD ID features a unique QR code and an alphanumeric identification number to ensure faster, more convenient identity verification.
The system also maintains a strict audit trail as an accountability measure, logging the personnel responsible for encoding, approving, and printing each ID.
IDs with lifetime validity will be issued to individuals with permanent disabilities, while others—particularly those with non-permanent or non-apparent conditions subject to revalidation—will receive IDs valid for five years.
The NCDA emphasized that the registration process is “not intended to question the permanence of a disability,” but rather to ensure records remain up to date and beneficiaries receive appropriate government support.
The rollout of the centralized platform aims to curb counterfeit PWD IDs, prevent the misuse of privileges, and safeguard the legally mandated benefits of qualified PWDs.
