House independent bloc leader Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte on Sunday urged his colleagues to pass on final reading a bill exempting persons with disabilities or PWDs from payment of the 12-percent value-added tax on certain goods and services.
Romualdez appealed to the House and Senate leaders to immediately convene the bicameral conference committee to approve the measure.
“The Aquino administration and Congress leaders can further show its care and compassion to PWDs by finally approving the bill upholding the rights and promotes the welfare of PWDs in the country,” he said
.Romualdez is the principal author of the House version, which was approved on third and final reading by 201 members of the House of Representatives.
“I appeal to the national government to consider my proposal so that we can extend additional genuine assistance to PWDs. This is very important to help their plight,” he said.
He earlier expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Senator Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate committee on ways and means that deliberated the proposal, for passing Senate Bill No. 2890.
“I thank the senators, especially Angara. The measure would genuinely extend assistance to PWDs. This is very important to help their plight,” he said.
The bill aims to exempt the PWDs from paying the 12-percent VAT, apart from the the 20-percent discount they are entitled to on particular goods and services.
“This will extend benefits to PWD who are in dire need of support from the government because of their condition in life. I am thankful to their response on my proposal,” he added.
Romualdez is the author of House Bill 1039 which “seeks to amend Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability,” as amended by Republic Act No. 9442.”
Under the measure, the VAT exemption shall apply on medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement, and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, joined President Benigno Aquino in pushing for reforms in the teaching of history, following an incident involving young students asking why Apolinario Mabini was seated throughout the historical blockbuster film “Heneral Luna.”
“We join the President in taking measures to show concern to ensure that the youth would be more knowledgeable about the lives of Philippine heroes and heroines,” he said.
Actor Epy Quizon, who played the paralytic and “Brains of the Katipunan” Apolinario Mabini in the film Heneral Luna, expressed disappointment over some college students asking him why remained seated all throughout the entire movie.
