NAWALAN ang pamahalaan ng may P88.2 billion na halaga ng buwis noong 2023 dahil sa pekeng persons with disabilities (PWD) IDs, ayon kay Senador Sherwin Gatchalian.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate ways and means committee noong Huwebes, sinabi ni Gatchalian na sa pagtaya ng kanyang tanggapan, may 8.5 milyong katao ang gumagamit ng pekeng PWD IDs at 1.8 million lamang ang lehitimong PWDs.
Aniya, pagdating sa discounts na ipinagkakaloob ng mga establisimiyento, ang halaga ay umabot na sa P166 billion.
“These fake PWD IDs are causing a lot of economic damage in terms of foregone revenues and unqualified discounts,” ani Gatchalian, chairperson ng panel.
Sinabi naman ni Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto PH) president Eric Teng na naitala nila ang pagtaas na mula 5% hanggang 25% sa kanilang benta na apektado ng PWD discounts sa nakalipas na dalawang taon.
“Two years ago we detected 5% of our sales affected by PWD discounts. Now, we are seeing close to 25% or over which is a fivefold increase in the last two years,” wika ni Teng, at idinagdag na naobserbahan nila ang pagkalat ng pekeng PWD IDs matapos ang pandemya.
“This inevitably will force us to raise prices. And when we raise prices, the effect will be to harm the persons with disabilities themselves. The legitimate disabled people will be the victims of these fake PWD cards,” dagdag pa niya.
Maging ang Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) ay nararamdaman din ang epekto ng paglaganap ng pekeng PWD IDs.
“Legitimate PWDs lose access to benefits as resources are diverted to unscrupulous individuals. Non-PWDs unfairly deplete the supplies of innovative life-saving medicines. And number three, pharmacies bear 70% of the cost of discounts,” pahayag ni PHAP executive director Teodoro Padilla.
Nabunyag din sa parehong hearing na may mga pekeng PWD IDs na ibinebenta online.
