Among the benefits and privileges include the grant of 20 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) on the purchase of goods and services. Another benefit is the five (5%) percent discount on electric and water consumption provided that the individual meters for the utilities are registered in the name of the senior citizen and that monthly consumption should not exceed 100 kilowatt hours of electricity and 30 cubic meters of water.
The poor senior citizens will also enjoy free vaccination against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease. They are also entitled to P2,000 death benefit assistance and monthly social pension of P500 for indigent older persons.
The medical or health-related privileges, on the other hand, whether discounted or for free and the discounts on purchase of goods and services from leisure and recreation centers, should be subjected to the supplemental guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, respectively, within 30 days from the effectivity of the IRR.
The discounts on electric and water utilities should also be covered by supplemental guidelines issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), respectively, six months after the effectivity of the IRR.
On the hand, the monthly social pension of P500 for indigent senior citizens shall be subject to DSWD guidelines which shall include the development of criteria for identification and selection of beneficiaries, the mechanisms for establishing a database, the system for delivery or release of the benefits, as well as monitoring and evaluation to facilitate the implementation of this additional government assistance.
The P2,000 death assistance is intended for indigent senior citizens who should be identified based on DSWD guidelines.
Around 6-million Filipino senior citizens are expected to benefit from the new law.
No comments:
Post a Comment