Muntinlupa intensifies fight against counterfeit PWD IDs

The local government of Muntinlupa City has enacted an ordinance to combat the increasing problem of fake and tampered persons with disability (PWD) identification cards.

City Ordinance No. 2025-325, also known as the Anti-fake PWD ID Ordinance, was signed by Mayor Ruffy Biazon after its passage by the Muntinlupa City Council last month. It establishes policies and penalties aimed at preventing the proliferation of fraudulent PWD IDs within the city.

Muntinlupa City issues PWD IDs to Filipino residents with permanent disabilities, including those with hearing, intellectual, learning, mental, orthopedic, physical, psychosocial, speech and language, visual impairments, as well as people with cancer and rare diseases.

These IDs serve as the basis for special discounts, benefits and privileges under various laws.

According to the ordinance, there is an “urgent need to undertake preventive and remedial measures to counteract the alarming nationwide proliferation of fake, falsified and/or tampered Persons with Disability identification cards in the interest of honesty, social justice and market integrity.”

The Muntinlupa City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) issues the PWD IDs, which are required by businesses, entities and agencies before extending legally mandated discounts, benefits and privileges.

The new law defines fake PWD IDs as counterfeit cards created to resemble legitimate PWD IDs issued by the Muntinlupa City PDAO, other local government units, the National Council on Disability Affairs, or any authorized issuing authority.

Meantime, Falsified PWD IDs are those issued by the Muntinlupa City PDAO based on willfully submitted false or misleading information or documents, such as fraudulent medical certificates. Tampered PWD IDs are defined as those that have undergone unauthorized modification or alteration of any information on the card.