The House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 15) approved on second reading a bill seeking to rationalize and add more benefits and privileges to be extended to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The Lower Chamber also passed on second reading House Bill No. 10313 proposing to promote the welfare of senior citizens and PWDs by extending to them the services that may be accessed in the EGov PH Super App.

HB 10314 is the product of a congressional inquiry that looked into complaints aired by beneficiaries of senior and PWD discounts against alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9934 that grants 20 percent mandatory cut in purchases of goods and services.

The three House committees that jointly conducted the investigation proposed the passage of the measure that contains the privileges and discounts extended by law to PWDs and elderly Filipinos.

HB 10314 was sponsored on the floor by the following House panels and their assigned chairperson: Rep. Alfelito Bascug of the Special Committee on Persons with Disabilities; Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means and Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes of the Committee on Senior Citizens.

The legislative measure enumerates the following as privileges granted to senior citizens and PWDs:

-20 percent discount and exemption from value added tax on goods and services and clarification that deducted discounts will be considered deductible expenses of business establishments;

-20 percent discount and VAT exemption on parking fees and charges in all establishments and the use of expressways and skyways

- 15 percent discount on their utility bill applied on he first 100 kWh of electricity consumption and 30 cubic meters for water use and also directs government to provide the following assistance

-Grants employers of senior citizens and PWDs 25 percent tax deduction on the salaries and wages covering such workers and

The bill also directs government to extend the following assistance to PWDs and senior citizens:

-Free medical, dental and diagnostic services, vocational training programs and social safety assistance;

-Exemption from payment of training fees for socioeconomic programs conducted by government agencies

Under the bill, discounts may only be applied on purchases of basic necessities and prime commodities not exceeding P2,500 per week.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture have recently set the allowable discount on such purchases at P125 per week.