A HOUSE bill has been filed requiring businesses to apply the 20 percent senior citizen and person with disability (PWD) discount and exemption from 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on top of promotional offers.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list representatives Andrew Romualdez and Jude Acidre filed House Bill 16 or “An Act enhancing the discount on the purchase of goods and services of senior citizens and persons with disabilities,” on June 30.
According to Romualdez, this is meant to end “usual quarrels” between businesses and senior citizens and PWDs on the correct interpretation of the law.
Romualdez added that they filed the bill in hopes of preserving preferential treatment towards senior citizens and PWDs.
“This bill aims to preserve the preferential treatment accorded to senior citizens and persons with disabilities by mandating the State to adopt an integrated approach on how to make essential programs and other social services available to them in an attainable and convenient manner,” Romualdez said.
Similar bills have been filed before, including House Bill 9850 during the 19th Congress, which proposes the 20 percent discount and VAT exemption still be applicable for promotional discount rates on domestic sea and air transport services, hotels, restaurants, and water and electricity bills, among others.
The 19th Congress closed with the bill still pending at the committee level. (ABS-CBN News)
