Manila, Feb. 7 -- Establishments cannot deny persons with disabilities (PWDs) their legally mandated discounts even if the authenticity of their PWD identification cards cannot be immediately verified, a lawmaker said on Friday.

Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. said rejecting PWD discounts under such circumstances violates Republic Act No. 10754 and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

Villafuerte cited a new legal opinion from the Department of Justice (DOJ), which states that withholding PWD benefits and privileges due to unverified IDs "constitutes a violation of the rights of PWDs."

"Based on the five-page legal opinion issued by the DOJ in January, establishments cannot deny PWDs their 20% disc...