The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its attached agency, the National Council on Disability Affairs, rolled out a unified ID system for people with disabilities on Tuesday.

The new system, which includes both physical and digital IDs, is being piloted in 35 local government units across the country to provide a more convenient way for people with disabilities to validate their identities and access benefits.

“This is the first of the 35 pilot local government units that will be able to provide a more convenient and efficient method of validation for their persons with disabilities constituents,” said Irene Dumlao, the DSWD’s spokesperson.

The first rollout was in San Miguel, Bulacan while other areas scheduled for this week include the cities of Pasay, Muntinlupa and Sta. Rosa in Laguna.

Local government units will handle applications, while the national council will manage centralized printing.

The new ID system is part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to combat fake ID cards and ensure more inclusive programs.

The digital ID features a QR code that can be scanned by businesses for quick verification, while the physical ID is an RFID-enabled PVC card for offline use.

Approximately 200,000 people, or about 10 percent of the estimated 2 million people with disabilities nationwide, are expected to participate in the pilot.