Here’s why persons with disabilities must register under new ID system

The National Council on Disability Affairs targets to register all 2.9 million persons with disabilities under the unified ID system by December 2027, before phasing out the old cards possibly by 2030

MANILA, Philippines – The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) is rolling out a platform where persons with disabilities (PWDs) must register in order to get a new identification card.

It is called the Unified Persons with Disabilities Identification System (UPWDIS), a government system that seeks to eliminate duplication and fraud. It was developed in January 2025 and had a pilot rollout and system testing in August the same year.

The UPWDIS was only formally instituted in June 2026, under NCDA Administrative Order No. 1, and took effect in September.

This system change had to be done after it was found that there could have been as many as 8.5 million “illegitimate” PWDs in the country in 2024, while there were only 1.89 million total registered PWDs at that time.

“The use of the PWD ID has been put in a bad light. There’s always a question of whether it is legit or not, right? That’s why legitimate persons with disabilities, especially those with non-apparent conditions, are doubted,” NCDA Executive Director Glenda Relova said in a mix of English and Filipino, as she held a press conference on Wednesday, November 4.

The NCDA targets to register all PWDs in the new portal by December 2027, before phasing out the old ID cards possibly by 2030. Existing authentic PWD IDs will remain valid during the three-year transition.

What are the features of the new ID?

The new ID has a standardized template, which includes a QR code and an alphanumeric identification number. According to the NCDA, this would address findings that different ID designs created by local government units (LGUs) are “more susceptible to forgery and counterfeiting.”

The ID card for those with permanent disabilities will have lifetime validity, while those owned by persons with non-apparent disabilities will undergo revalidation every five years. Previously, PWD IDs were generally valid for five years, requiring renewal or revalidation. 

The new ID is primarily digital, but physical cards can still be requested.

The photo below shows the look of the new PWD ID.

How to register 

Relova said PWDs must register for the new database through the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in their locality. 

She said those with an apparent disability, such as persons who are totally blind, missing limbs, limping, and others, may be registered without a disability certificate.

Those with a non-apparent disability, or disability that is not manifested physically, must have a valid assessment from the PDAO. The PDAO officer will also upload the disability certificate to the UPWDIS.

Relova said the NCDA has conducted training sessions with LGUs to facilitate the registration of PWDs directly into the new system.

The administrative order also specifies that there should be mobile registration teams going to remote, disadvantaged, and underserved areas, in coordination with barangays. 

How does that curb fraud?

Relova said only the UPWDIS can generate the unique identification number of the new PWD ID.

She said that if PDAO officers are doubting the diagnosis or disability certificate of the applicant, the document would be sent to the NCDA. The council would then verify it with specialists.

Erring government officials involved in distributing PWD IDs to those who are not qualified will also be easily tracked. Relova said only PDAO officers and information technology personnel of LGUs have access to the UPWDIS.

With the new portal, the NCDA can track who encoded the data for the ID of an individual posing as a PWD, who approved the registration, whether the issuing LGU has the capability to print an ID card, and who printed the ID card.

Establishments, merchants, and offices can also verify PWD IDs by scanning the QR code and checking it against the national database through the website https://verify.alaga.ph/.

Previously, establishments had to verify PWD IDs through a Department of Health-managed registry or through the PDAO of the issuing LGU. But the registry was not always updated, making verification difficult.

Since the controversy over fake PWD IDs emerged in late 2024, there have been no individuals slapped with penalties yet, said NCDA Spokesperson Walter Jason Alava. A number of cases are still ongoing.

What are the numbers?

As of October 2026, there are around 2.9 million registered PWDs, according to the NCDA’s website. 

So far, around 1,100 out of 1,642 LGUs have adopted the UPWDIS. Over 190,000 PWDs have been registered under the system, with more than 128,000 digital IDs issued.

Relova recalled that the Senate, during a hearing nearly two years ago, found that the government lost P88.2 billion in revenues due to the proliferation of fake PWD IDs. 

She said the funding could have been used for social protection services, such as rehabilitation centers, scholarships to encourage more students to study occupational therapy and speech therapy, and assistive devices for PWDs. – Rappler.com