Restaurant owners have voiced concerns over their losses due to the use of fake persons with disabilities (PWD) cards.

Faith Castillo, operations manager of a popular spot in Quezon City, said that previously, discounts accounted for five percent of their daily sales. 

Now, however, that percentage has increased to 10 to 15 percent.

She clarified that they have no issue providing discounts to legitimate members of the PWD sector. 

“We’ve experienced na sa 10 person na mag dine in, out of those, mga 6 yung PWD card holders, and minsan questionable kasi you see them physically na abled naman and hindi naman kasi kami nag-base dun sa nakalagay na disability sa card. Once nag-pass sila ng PWD ID, syempre we apply the discount right away kasi wala naman tayo verification process,” she said.

However, the problem arises as some individuals take advantage of RA 10754, the Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD), by using questionable cards.

Eric Teng, president of the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (RestoPh), said that they have launched a campaign against the use of fake PWD cards because their businesses are suffering significant losses. 

“There’s a dramatic increase. Dati kasi napapansin namin total sales sa isang araw mga 5 percent, malaki na yun, pero ngayon, some days 30 percent or more. In other words, kung ano benta namin for the whole day, 30 percent nun ay may some sort of PWD or senior card discount. Pero ang nakaka-alarma talaga is the growth of PWD cards,” he explained.

He said that while some cards are easily faked, certain local government units have incorporated security features like QR codes and holograms.

The proliferation of fake cards has been blatant, with some being sold on online marketplaces for as low as P350 each.

According to National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Executive Director Glenda Rulova, they have been collaborating with RestoPh to address the problem of fake PWD cards. 

“Kami po ay all-out sa paglaban po at pagkuha ng fake IDs, also sa pag-prosecute po ng mga gumagamit ng fake na IDs,” Rulova said.

She explained that the spread of fake IDs not only affects restaurant owners but also undermines the rights of legitimate members of the PWD sector. 

“Nagkakaroon po kasi ng agam-agam ang mga establisyemento na mag-provide ng discount because may proliferation ng mga fake IDs na ito,” she said.

Rulova added that they have contacted Meta regarding the sale of these illicit cards.

“Bawal po yun kasi ang pwede lang po mag-isyu ay yung mga Persons with Disability Affairs Office na matatagpuan po sa mga munisipyo at city hall,” she said.