Finally, people with disability due to chronic illness - a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent like lupus / SLE or rheumatoid arthritis - can now avail of benefits such as discounts for products and services that they need, inclusive of transportation, medical services and products, and basic commodities.

This was realized by Republic Act 9442 amended RA 7277 -- the country’s Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

What is RA 9442?

RA 9442 is the act amending RA 7277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”:

was signed into law on April 30, 2007.
contains the rights and privileges of persons with disabilities.
provides at least 20% discount on:

1.      selected land, air and sea transportation (except taxi/tricycle fares)

2.      identified services and commodities like:

medical and dental care services (incl. lab and professional fees) 
medicines, purchase of commodities, services in selected and identified establishments

3.      food, entertainment and recreational/cultural services

grants special discounts on the purchase of basic commodities
provides express lanes for persons with disability
also contains provisions on verbal, non verbal ridicule and vilification against persons  with disability

Click here to view the whole copy of the RA9442

B.1 Any bonafide person with permanent disability or his/her caregiver can obtain an application form from either of the following registration centers;

• Office of the Mayor
• Office of the Barangay Captain
• NCDA or its regional counterpart
• DSWD Offices
• Participating organizations with memorandum of agreements with the Department of Health

B.2 Applicant shall fill up the form, attaches two 1″ x 1″ picture with his or her signature or thumbmark behind.

B.3 He or she shall obtain a clinical abstract duly signed by any licensed private or government clinic or hospital-based physician and attach it with the application form.

B.4 Applicant, care-giver or registration center personnel then brings or uploads whichever is applicable, the application form and clinical abstract to the nearest City of Municipal Health Office or its satellite offices or stations at the barangay.

B.5 The receiving health office shall screen and perform the necessary medical and other allied medical assessment they deem necessary at no cost to the applicant for the accuracy of the entries with the actual and permanency of the condition of the PWD. If PWD is not ambulatory, the receiving health officer shall do a home visit to validate the entries and disability.

B.6 If entries of the application form and clinical abstract match the actual health condition of the PWD, the form with all attachments goes to the Health Officer of the Main City or Municipal Health Center.

B.7 The City or Municipal Health Officer shall fill up the certification form which shall be designed, reproduced and archived by the City of Municipal Health Office and shll contain but not limited to the following minimum information:

1. First Name, Middle Initial and Last Name of Applicant PWD
2. Diagnosis
3. Complete Address
4. Birthday
5. Gender
6. Father’s Name
7. Mother’s Name
8. Control Number
9. Physician’s signature over Printed Name and License Number

B.8 The City or Municipal Health Officer shall affix the control number on the certification form and application form and sign the certificate of disability. The City of Municipal Health Officer shall then enter the duly signed certificate of disability to the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities that can be loaded from the DOH National Office Website.

B.9 Applications that were disapproved shall be advised regarding the deficiencies and shall be allowed to reapply until complied.

B.10 The applicant or care-giver shall bring the duly approved application form and certificate of disability to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office or NCDA for issuance of the identification card.

B.11 The nearest local Social Welfare Office or NCDA may screen applicants further and require a social case study if warranted.

B.12 If found to be a valid application, the receiving officer of the local SWO or NCDA shall record control number and issues ID to PWDs.

B.13 As to the disability that is not apparent, the establishments may ask from the PWD additional documents as proofs as to his/her disability.

C. Validity and Renewal of the ID Card

The ID card issued to the PWD shall be valid for three years only for the purpose of issuing identification cards. The first issuance shall be for free. For renewal due to expiration, loss or damage, the issuing authorities, Mayor, Barangay Captain and NCDA shall charge minimal fee for the new ID card.

Go to this page to view the List of Provinces and Cities Issuing IDs to Persons With Disabilities