Metro Manila, Philippines – The House ways and means committee recommended on Tuesday, Jan. 14, a number of discounts for senior citizens or those aged 60 and above.
The panel, chaired by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, approved the discounts under an unnumbered substitute bill to the Comprehensive Senior Citizens Benefit Act. It includes price cuts on utilities, transport, and online sales.
From 5 percent, the committee proposed increasing the water and power utility discount to 15 percent and to also apply it to the elderly who consume 200 kilowatt-hours per month.
Salceda said he pushed for a P2,000 tollway discount for senior citizens who will pass through expressways and the application of a senior discount on transport network vehicle services.
“The capped [tollway] discount ensures that seniors are able to avail of the benefit while protecting it from abuse,” he said in a statement.
A 20-percent senior citizens discount would also be recognized in online sales, the bill states.
“Businesses will also be able to use the cost of VAT (value-added tax) discounts as a deduction from gross income so that the cost of these discounts is shared between consumers and the government, rather than being merely passed on to consumers,” Salceda said.
He said he insisted on institutionalizing the removal of booklet requirement for availment of senior discounts in purchasing medicines.
Based on 2020 census, 8.5 percent or about 9.24 million Filipinos are senior citizens.
