The House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means recommended for plenary approval several bills expanding the coverage of senior citizens’ benefits and privileges.
“Today, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved the unnumbered substitute bill to the Comprehensive Senior Citizens Benefit Act. This is the culmination of months of work of the joint committees on Ways and Means, Senior Citizens, and Disability Affairs,” panel chair and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said in a Monday hearing.
“What the bill does is carve into the statutes the progress made by the joint committee, created at the direction of the Speaker,” he added.
The lawmaker said Congress will enact a measure institutionalizing the removal of the requirement of the booklet for availing senior discounts. He also recommended a P2,000-tollway discount for senior citizens who use expressways.
“Other benefits include applying the senior discount on TNVs like Grab and Angkas and increasing the water and power utility discount from five percent to 15 percent, and on those consuming 200kWh rather than just 100kWh,” Salceda said.
According to him, online sales will also be subject to the 20-percent senior discount, so businesses will also be able to use the cost of VAT discounts as a deduction from gross income.
“As a consensus bill backed by months’ worth of consultations, this should pass Congress even through the lame-duck session, if it gets to that,” Salceda said.