If you or a family member has a PWD (Person with Disability) ID in the Philippines, you've probably heard of the accompanying purchase booklet — a small logbook that pharmacies and some grocery stores use to record your discounted purchases. Many first-time applicants don't realize the booklet exists until a pharmacist or cashier asks for it, causing confusion or a missed discount at checkout. This guide explains exactly what the booklet is for, how to get one, and how to use it correctly so you get the full 20% medicine discount and the special grocery discount you're entitled to under Philippine law.
This guide covers What Is the PWD Purchase Booklet For? and Who Is Eligible for a PWD ID and Booklet?, with the full details below.
- The purchase booklet is issued together with (or shortly after) your PWD ID at the PDAO or CSWDO in your city or municipality
- It is used mainly to track your monthly quota for the 5% special discount on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities (BNPCs) at supermarkets
- For medicine purchases, pharmacies also log entries in the booklet to apply your 20% discount and VAT exemption
- First issuance of the PWD ID and booklet is free of charge under NCDA Administrative Order 001-2021
- Your PWD ID is now valid for 5 years, but the booklet may need periodic renewal or replacement once its pages are filled
What Is the PWD Purchase Booklet For?
The purchase booklet is a small record book that pharmacies and select retailers use to log your discounted purchases under the special privileges granted to Persons with Disability. It serves two main purposes: tracking your monthly purchase quota for the 5% discount on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities (BNPCs) — like rice, canned goods, bread, and other everyday items — and providing pharmacies a record trail when applying your 20% discount and VAT exemption on medicines. Without it, some pharmacies or stores may hesitate to honor the discount, since the booklet is their audit trail for the sale.
Who Is Eligible for a PWD ID and Booklet?
Any Filipino citizen with an apparent or non-apparent disability — physical, sensory (vision or hearing), intellectual, psychosocial, or learning disability — that substantially limits one or more major life activities is eligible to apply for a PWD ID under the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (RA 7277) as amended by RA 10754. This covers all ages, from children to senior citizens, and there is no income requirement — eligibility is based purely on having a qualifying disability.
Step 1: Determine If Your Disability Is Apparent or Non-Apparent
This distinction matters because it determines what supporting document you need. Apparent disabilities — ones that are visibly obvious, like blindness, a missing limb, or an obvious physical deformity — generally do not require a doctor's medical certificate; the assessing officer at the PDAO or barangay health worker can confirm it directly. Non-apparent disabilities — such as mental health conditions, psychosocial disabilities, learning disabilities, or some vision and hearing impairments that aren't immediately visible — require a Certificate of Disability signed by a licensed specialist (e.g., a psychiatrist, psychologist, audiologist, or ophthalmologist, depending on the disability type).
Step 2: Gather Your Requirements
- Two recent 1x1 or 2x2 ID photos
- One valid government-issued ID (or birth certificate for minors without an ID)
- Certificate of Disability from a licensed specialist (only if your disability is non-apparent)
- Barangay Certificate of Residency (required by some LGUs to confirm you live within their jurisdiction)
- Duly accomplished PWD ID application form (available at the PDAO office)
Requirements can vary slightly by city or municipality, so it's worth calling ahead to your local PDAO to confirm their exact checklist before making the trip.
Step 3: Go to the PDAO or CSWDO in Your City or Municipality
Applications are filed at the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) or, in areas without a dedicated PDAO, the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), usually located at or near the city or municipal hall. Bring your original documents plus photocopies. An officer will review your application, verify your disability classification, and process your ID.
Step 4: Receive Your PWD ID and Purchase Booklet
Once approved, you'll receive your PWD ID card, valid for 5 years under NCDA Administrative Order 001-2021, along with the purchase booklet. The first issuance of both the ID and the booklet is free of charge, per National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) guidelines. Processing time ranges from same-day in some LGUs to about 1 to 4 weeks in others, depending on local volume and whether a non-apparent disability certificate needs additional verification.
Step 5: Learn How to Actually Use the Booklet When Shopping
When buying medicine at a pharmacy, present both your PWD ID and the booklet at checkout — the pharmacist will log the purchase details (item, quantity, amount) in the booklet and apply the 20% discount plus VAT exemption. For groceries, when buying Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities at supermarkets, present your ID and booklet to claim the 5% special discount, which typically applies up to a monthly purchase limit (commonly capped at a set peso amount per week or month, as set under NCDA and DTI-DA joint guidelines) — ask the store's customer service desk about their current cap if unsure.
What Discounts and Privileges Does the Booklet Help You Claim?
- 20% discount + VAT exemption on medicines, medical and dental services, and diagnostic tests
- 5% discount on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities, up to the monthly quota set under joint DTI/DA/NCDA guidelines
- 20% discount on domestic air, sea, and land transportation fares
- 20% discount on hotels, restaurants, recreation centers, and admission fees for leisure venues
- Additional educational and employment-related privileges under RA 10754, tracked separately from the purchase booklet
What If Your Booklet Gets Filled Up, Lost, or Damaged?
Once all pages of your booklet are used, or if it gets lost or damaged, return to the same PDAO or CSWDO office that issued your PWD ID to request a replacement booklet. Bring your PWD ID for verification. Some LGUs may charge a minimal replacement fee for a lost booklet (though the first issuance is free), so check with your local office on their specific replacement policy.
What If a Store or Pharmacy Refuses to Honor Your Discount?
Refusing to grant the legally mandated PWD discount is a violation of RA 10754 and its implementing rules, and can be reported to the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (for retail establishments), or your local PDAO, which can escalate the complaint. Keep your ID and booklet updated and in good condition, and don't hesitate to politely point staff to the specific law if they're unaware — many smaller establishments simply lack proper training on PWD privileges rather than deliberately refusing.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Under NCDA Administrative Order 001-2021, the first issuance of both the PWD ID and the purchase booklet is free of charge nationwide. Some LGUs may charge a small fee only for a replacement if the original is lost or damaged, but never for a first-time application.
Yes, psychosocial disabilities, including diagnosed mental health conditions that substantially affect major life activities, are covered under the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. However, since this is a non-apparent disability, you will need a Certificate of Disability issued by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist to support your application at the PDAO.
Generally, the PWD discount is computed on the regular retail price, not stacked on top of an already-discounted promo or sale price — retailers typically apply whichever gives the greater benefit but are not required to stack multiple discounts. Store policies on this can vary slightly, so it's worth asking the cashier or customer service desk if you're unsure during a big sale event.
Yes, pharmacies typically require both your PWD ID and the purchase booklet together, since the booklet serves as their required documentation trail for claiming the discount and VAT exemption on their end. Leaving the booklet at home may result in the pharmacy being unable to process the discount for that transaction.
The 5% discount on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities is subject to a purchase quota set under joint guidelines from the NCDA, DTI, and Department of Agriculture — commonly a set peso limit per week or month rather than unlimited purchases. The exact current cap can be confirmed with the NCDA or your local PDAO, since guidelines are periodically reviewed.
Generally, the discount is meant for purchases made for the actual use of the PWD, and the PWD ID holder or their authorized representative can present the ID and booklet together when making the purchase. Some establishments may ask clarifying questions if the purchase pattern looks unusual, so it helps to have both documents on hand and be ready to explain if needed.
You'll need to renew your PWD ID at the same PDAO or CSWDO office once it nears or reaches its 5-year expiration, since an expired ID means establishments can legally decline to honor the discount. Renewal typically requires updated documents similar to a first-time application; ask your PDAO if your booklet can continue to be used or needs to be reissued alongside the renewed ID.
Conclusion
The PWD purchase booklet works hand-in-hand with your PWD ID to make sure pharmacies and retailers have a proper record when granting your legally mandated discounts — and getting both is free, straightforward, and handled at your local PDAO or CSWDO office. Keep both documents together whenever you shop, know your monthly grocery discount quota, and don't hesitate to escalate to the NCDA or DTI if an establishment wrongfully denies your discount.
