The 12,000 persons with disability (PWD) identification cards issued by the Bacolod City government will be valid only until February 29.
This is to give PWD card holders time to avail of new ones, Mae Cuaycong, special assistant to the mayor, said Tuesday, February 6.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said “the recall is essential to ensure data security, complying with updated regulations, addressing other relevant concerns regarding the PWD cards, including the indiscriminate issuance of PWD IDs which has come to my knowledge”.
This is to prevent non-PWDs with such cards from availing of discounts granted only to persons with disabilities.
The processing of new PWD cards will be conducted at the Bacolod Express Service Offices (BESO) at SM City and Ayala Malls Capitol Central starting Monday, Cuaycong said.
PWDs wishing to avail of new identification cards may also do so online at a link to be posted soon, or as walk-in applicants at the BESOs, she said.
The city government will also assign personnel to do home visits for bedridden PWDs, she added.
Applicants must fill up a form signed by their doctor, which will be validated by the City Health Office, Cuaycong said.
A certificate of residency and a valid ID with a Bacolod address is also required, she added.
The city government will issue new PWD cards with added QR (quick response) codes, the mayor said.*