TACLOBAN CITY-The Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) here in the city has heightened its monitoring activities of establishments to encourage them the granting of discounts and incentives for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
As mandated by Republic Act 9442, the act amending the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons or RA 7277, PWDs are entitled to discounts on their medicine or school supply purchases.
“Dire kuno hira maaram nga may PWD discount…Amo nga kun nabisita kami hin establishment gintatagan namon hira hin kopya han R.A. 9442 (They are not aware of the PWD discount…that’s why we give them a copy of R.A. 9442 whenever we visit an establishment),” said Claire Eden Tacazon, PDAO officer in charge.
In a report from the City Information Office, the official disclosed that most complaints they received “are about the refusal of some business establishments to grant discounts to PWDs when they purchase medicines and school supplies.”
PWDs are entitled to a 20% discount on medicine and medical supplies and a 5% discount on school supplies when they present their PWD identification cards (IDs), the city government said.
PDAO is in-charge in the distribution of PWD ID for free.
PWDs need to register and submit documents, such as a photocopy of a valid ID or certificate of live birth; a certificate of barangay residency/indigency; a photocopy of a medical certificate indicating the cause and type of disability; and two pieces of 1×1 ID picture.
Meanwhile, the city government warned that establishments that will not comply with the law risk getting their permits revoked and paying a maximum penalty ofP100,000 and imprisonment.
As this developed, PDAO also started its validation of the 3,300 registered PWDs in the different barangays of Tacloban. (RONALD O. REYES)
