Karapatan sa PWD discount ng cancer patients

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Apr. 5, 2025

Dear Chief Acosta,

Kamakailan lang nang nalaman namin na may cancer ang aming kapatid. Sadyang napakahirap para sa amin lalo na at mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin at ng mga gamot. May nakapagsabi sa akin na maaari diumano mag-apply ng Persons with Disability (PWD) ID ang aming kapatid upang makakuha ng mga diskuwento sa mga bilihin at gamot. Totoo ba ito? — Erika

---

Dear Erika,

Tunay na isang mabigat na pasanin ang pagkakaroon ng cancer. Sa ating bansa pa lamang ay dumarami na ang kaso nito kung kaya’t isang solusyon na ginawa ng ating pamahalaan ay ang pagsasabatas ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11215 o ang National Integrated Cancer Control Act.  Isa sa mga layunin ng batas na ito ang tiyakin na ang gamutan at pag-aalaga sa mga taong may sakit na cancer ay magiging abot-kaya para sa mas nakararami. Sa Seksyon 25 at 26 ng nasabing batas ay nakasaad na:

“Section 25. Persons with Disabilities. - Cancer patients, persons living with cancer and cancer survivors are considered as persons with disabilities (PWDs) in accordance with Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, otherwise known as the ‘Magna Carta for Disabled Persons’.

Section 26. Rights and Privileges. - The cancer patients, persons living with cancer and cancer survivors are accorded the same rights and privileges as PWDs and the DSWD shall ensure that their social welfare and benefits provided under Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, are granted to them. Further, the DOLE shall adopt programs which promote work and employment opportunities for able persons with cancer and cancer survivors.”

Isa sa mga pribilehiyo ng isang PWD na nakasaad sa Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7277, na inamyendahan ng Republic Act No. (R.A.) 10754 ay ang 20% discount sa mga bilihin. Sa Section 32 ng nasabing batas ay nakasaad na:

“SEC. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to:

(a) At least twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the following sale of goods and services for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of the PWD:

(1) On the fees and charges relative to the utilization of all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments; restaurants and recreation centers;

(2) On admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement;

(3) On the purchase of medicines in all drugstores;

(4) On medical and dental services including diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not limited to, x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, and professional fees of attending doctors in all government facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);

(5) On medical and dental services including diagnostic and laboratory fees, and professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in coordination with the PhilHealth; x x x”

Kaugnay nito, mangyari na ang kapatid ninyo ay magtungo sa Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) na matatagpuan sa munisipalidad o lungsod kung saan siya nakatira upang pormal na makapagpasa ng aplikasyon at mabigyan ng PWD ID at booklet makaraan na makumpleto at masiyasat ang mga dokumento na magpapatunay sa kanyang kalagayan.

Kung siya ay ganap na mabibigyan ng PWD ID ay maaari na niya itong magamit upang makakuha ng mga diskuwento sa mga bilihin at gamot na para sa kanyang sariling pangangailangan.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.