The local government of Valenzuela announced on Monday the implementation of a mandatory renewal for holders of red Persons with Disability (PWD) IDs with identification numbers ending in VC.

In a public advisory, the city government urged affected PWD ID holders to visit the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) at Valenzuela City Hall to process their renewal. Applicants must bring the following:

• Old disability ID

• Updated medical certificate

• Valid government-issued ID

• Birth certificate (for minors)

The decision to require renewals follows a recent incident where a Valenzuela resident's five-year-old daughter was denied PWD benefits at a restaurant in Rizal because her ID was not listed in the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities (PRPWD) under the Department of Health (DOH).

The Valenzuela City Public Information Office (PIO) explained that the red PWD IDs were issued between 2020 and 2022, but many were not encoded in the DOH database.

The PRPWD system was created to combat fraudulent PWD IDs and establish a national database for accurately recording disability cases. In 2022, a new PWD ID layout was introduced, ensuring proper registration and inclusion in the DOH database.

“There is no deadline in the mandatory renewal, and the PWD ID holders will receive their new IDs within the day,” said Jen Taborda of the Valenzuela City PIO.

Taborda added that the initiative aims to standardize PWD IDs and ensure that only legitimate PWDs receive benefits.

As of February 2025, Valenzuela City has 18,486 registered PWDs. The local government encourages all affected residents to update their IDs promptly to avoid issues when claiming benefits.