The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for the lifetime validity of persons with disabilities (PWD) identification cards issued to individuals with permanent disabilities in the city, providing funds and for other purposes.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr., it shall be the policy of the local government to create an inclusive environment that addresses the unique predicaments faced by PWDs in the city, thus, the local government recognizes the importance of ensuring the overall wellbeing of all PWDs in the city.
The ordinance shall cover all bonafide PWDs with permanent disabilities in the city as defined.
The ordinance defined PWDs are those persons suffering from restriction or different abilities as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.
In the other hand, disability refer to any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for a person with the condition to do certain activities; a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more psychological, physiological, or anatomical function of an individual or activities of such individuals; a record of such impairment or being regarded as having such impairments.
The ordinance stipulated that all PWD identification cards issued by the local government to individuals with permanent disabilities shall have a lifetime validity. The existing PWD identification cards issued by the city shall be valid until the indicated expiration date but shall have permanent validity upon renewal, provided that, the holders of the same shall have the option to renew their respective identification cards before their expiration for purposes of availing the lifetime validity of the cards.
Subsequently, all new applications for PWD identification cards shall be submitted to the PWD Affairs Office (PDAO) where the applicant shall submit pertinent documents provided under the Nation Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) Administrative Order No. 001-21 and such other documents that the PDAO may require.
Subsequently, all existing holders of PWD identification cards in the city shall, upon expiration of the same initially issued to them, renew the same with the PDAO. The applicant shall submit the pertinent documents provided under existing rules and such other documents that the PDAO may require, provided that, all documents required which had been submitted shall no longer be required, provided further that, applicants shall still submit pertinent documents in case of change in substantial details such as name, address, status among others.
The ordinance tasked the PDAO, City Social Welfare and Development Office and the City health Services office to develop the appropriate guidelines for the updating and validation of the profiles for all PWD identification card holders.
The ordinance added that the amount necessary for the implementation of the proposed measure shall be charged against the annual budget of the PDAO.
The PDAO in coordination with the CHSO, CSWDO, the City Legal office, Committee on Employment, Livelihood and Cooperatives, and PWDs and the city action officer on PWD programs shall be primarily in charge of the implementation of the ordinance. By Dexter A. See
