RESTAURANT owners in Davao City have reported an increase in the use of fake Persons with Disabilities (PWD) identification cards to claim the 20% discount mandated by Philippine law.
Benjie Lizada, president of the Restaurant Owners Association of Davao City, said that since the passage of Republic Act 10754, which expands the benefits of PWDs, individuals have been creating counterfeit IDs to access discounts in restaurants and other businesses.
“We are coordinating right now with Resto PH, an association of restaurant owners in Manila to address the problem of fake cards. There is a proliferation of fake PWD cards. Malaki ang tama sa amin nito (This has really affected us)," Lizada said during the Business Matters media forum on Friday, November 29, 2024.
While Lizada clarified that they have no issue offering discounts to legitimate PWD members, the proliferation of fake IDs could harm businesses, particularly those still recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The discounts are funded by private companies, and the inability to verify valid IDs, many of which are sold illegally, adds to the difficulty.
Lizada, who is also the restaurant sector representative for Davao City's tourism industry, suggested that National IDs could be a more reliable solution to this problem.
He also highlighted the struggles of local restaurants, noting that Davao has seen a significant decrease in restaurant numbers since the pandemic.
"The city recorded 889 restaurants in 2019, but as of October 2024, there were only 658 left," he stated.
The city has experienced a significant decline in businesses, with 3,193 establishments registered and renewed in 2019, including restaurants, tourism-related businesses, lodging, travel agencies, ticket offices, spas, resorts, tour guides, and souvenir shops. By October 2024, approximately 997 of these commercial establishments had ceased operations.
Under Republic Act No. 10754, or the “Act Expanding Benefits and Privileges for Persons with Disability,” PWDs are exempt from value-added tax and entitled to a minimum 20 percent discount on services in hotels, restaurants, and recreation centers. DEF