Press Release
January 28, 2010

Expanded senior citizens bill to give financial relief to RP's elderly - Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon yesterday said senior citizens in the country would soon be able to enjoy their 20 percent discount once the President enacts the proposed Expanded Senior Citizens Act that Congress recently ratified.

Gordon, one of the proponents of the proposed measure, said the bill would give financial relief to the elderly, once it is enacted into law since it would, among others, grant senior citizens exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) provided under the National Internal Revenue Code on the sale of good and services from all establishments.

"I filed a bill on that account that senior citizens should be exempted from VAT. Ako ay nasisiyahan dahil na-ratify na iyan," he said.

"Yung mga senior citizens hindi na masyadong mahihirapan, lalo na sa kanilang gamot, sa kanilang groceries at sa kanilang mga iba pang pangangailangan," he added.

Last week, the Senate passed on third reading Senate Bill 3561 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2009, which seeks to expand the benefits and privileges for senior citizens in the country.

Aside from exempting them from VAT, other benefits and privileges will include exemption from payment of individual income taxes for senior citizens considered as minimum wage earners; death benefit assistance of a minimum of P2,000; monthly stipend; and the establishment of a "senior citizens ward" in every government hospital, among others.

Senior citizens have complained that they do not really enjoy their 20 percent discount since they still have to pay VAT.

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