Fake IDs are rapidly proliferating in the Philippines. This is especially true for PWD IDs in which holders can get large discounts on services, entertainment, and restaurants, among others. Thanks to online marketplaces, getting fake IDs are easier than before.
Select retailers on Lazada and Shopee are outright selling services to print fake IDs. Available IDs range from Postal ID, Driver’s License, PWD IDs, and many more. These are being advertised as “For Verification Purposes Only,” but are still highly illegal.
Shopee and Lazada are yet to take down or penalize sellers blatantly selling fake IDs on their respective platforms.
Restaurant Owners of the Philippines have raised their concern over these fake PWD IDs as they are forced to provide 20% discount – a deduction that they must burden. This is particularly harmful to mom-and-pop food stores where margins are razor thin.
There have been some hostilities between affected restaurants and the PWD community. In a now deleted post, Lowbrow Casual Restaurants posted their take in the issue. It said that it is “impossible to draw clean lines around what disorders should get a discount” and cited examples of “invisible disabilities” such as mental health issues.
They further called upon on their readers and customers to shame people that might be using fake PWD IDs or even “break your leg, become truly disabled, show them how superior your disability is.”
DSWD is currently planning to implement a unified identification system for persons with disabilities by the end of 2025, which will feature a physical ID component.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued a warning against the sale and use of fake PWD IDs as these could constitute as tax evasion. PhP 88.2 billion in taxes have already been lost back in 2023 due to these issues according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
