By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Senior citizens will now fully enjoy 20 percent discounts of goods and services and they will be exempted from the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act or Republic Act 9994 is set for implementation.

The R.A 9994 is an an act granting additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens, further amending R.A. 7432, as amended, otherwise known as “An act to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to nation building, grant benefits and special privileges and for other purposes.” On June 19, the Senate approved the Senate Bill 3561, aiming to lift the burden of VAT among senior citizen consumers nationwide and enable senior citizens to fully avail of the 20 percent senior citizens discount that was originally envisioned for them under the RA 7342.

The said act was signed last February and according to the Center for Health and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (CHD-CAR) Licensing Regulation and Enforcement Division Head Dr. Erwin Baclig, its Implementing Rules and Regulations was already signed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) and other concerned non-government-organizations.

On June 25, representatives of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) and the Regional inter-agency committee on Senior Citizens together with owners of different businesses as well as hospitals in the Cordillera witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Baclig said the health department will monitor food and drug establishments for their compliance to the act.
Regional Director Norberto Vitug of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR-CAR) admitted that while there will be effects on taxes in the implementation of RA 9994, it will financially help the elderly. Vitug said that under the said act, the purchase of medicines like influenza and pneumonical vaccines and other medical supplies and the fare in public utility jeepneys, taxis and other shuttle services are included in the list of goods and services entitled to the 20 percent and VAT exemption.# nordis.net