BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF SENIOR CITIZENS 

Laws that provide benefits and privileges to senior citizens have long been passed and implemented yet there are still some elderlies who do not know about the scope of discounts on certain items and services.

This cropped up during the consultation dialogue by the Regional Inter-agency Committee of Senior Citizens (RIASC), Regional Coordinating and Monitoring Board (RCMB) and the Regional Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (RFSCAP), together with the Regional Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (RFSCAP).

Edith Ibarra, a senior citizen leader  in Baguio City, bats for  continuous information education campaign on the  laws  for senior  citizens so that they could fully enjoy the  benefits and privileges  due them  in their  golden  years .

As defined  under Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by RA No. 9257(“Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003”) , and further amended by RA  9994,  known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, ” defines senior citizen or elderly as   any resident citizen of the Philippines at least 60  years old.

Senior citizens are entitled to 20% discount and exemption from the value -added tax (VAT) on certain goods and services for their exclusive use. Among these  are  the  purchase of medicines and  essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment;  professional fees of attending physicians  and  licensed  health workers as well as on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services.

They are also entitled to 20% discount on fare for land (jeepneys, buses, taxis, shuttle services, MRT, LRT, PNR,) sea shipping vessel and domestic transport services. Many elderly do not know that the 20% discount also applies to taxis.

This also applies to restaurants, hotels and similar lodging establishments, and recreation centers. Seniors should be reminded though that the discount only applies to them.

 Also subject to the 20% discount are admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, leisure and amusement. In some local government units like Baguio City, SM Cinema Baguio is offering free movies to senior citizens who are residents of the city  once a day from Monday to Friday.

When they die, there is discount for their funeral and burial services.

The law also provides  grant of a minimum of 5%  discount on  water and electric bills  registered  in the name of the senior citizen residing therein, and provided that   the monthly consumption does not exceed 100 kilowatt hours  of electricity and  30 cubic meters  of water: 

Seniors can also get a 5% discount without VAT exemption on certain on groceries granted by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture. 

For groceries worth up to PHP 1,300 per week, they can enjoy 5% off the retail prices of at least four kinds of  the following basic necessities and prime commodities: Rice, bread, and corn; Chicken, beef, and pork ;Fresh eggs; Coffee, creamer, and sugar;Fresh fruits and vegetables;Garlic and onions;cooking oil and salt;Noodles, canned sardines, and canned tuna;Fresh milk and other dairy products;detergents; Electrical supplies, light bulbs, and batteries and geriatric diapers.

Senior citizens though cannot avail of this special discount in sari-sari stores, cooperative stores, and wet markets.   

As the government cares for the health of senior citizens, they have mandatory PhilHealth coverage as stipulated in RA 9994. When they are confined in private hospitals, they can avail of PhilHealth benefits in addition to the 20% discount and VAT exemption.  In government hospitals, the No Balance Billing Policy applies.

To augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs, the government also provides monthly social pension amounting to P500 to indigent senior citizens.

Another privilege of senior citizens is the provision of express lanes for them in all commercial and government establishments.

For the 60 and above citizens to enjoy these benefits and privileges, they must present their senior citizen ID issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA). They may present their government-issued ID that shows their age in the absence of senior citizen ID but not all establishments honor this. That is why it is  very important  to  apply for  their senior citizens ID at the OSCA or the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD)  in  their respective  city or municipality.   

An elderly should get a senior citizen identification card and present it whenever needed to avail of the benefits and discounts, Amelyn Cabrera of DSWD Cordillera reiterated.

Weak or bedridden senior citizens can still avail of the discount especially in the purchase of their medicines and groceries. They only have to make and sign  authorization  letter  for their  duly authorized representatives,  who will present   it along with  the ssenior citizens’ ID,  OSCA purchase booklet  and  their  own  government –issued ID when paying  for the purchases.

Senior citizens discounts are not only for the benefit of the elderly but they also provide big reprieve for families and breadwinners, Cabrera said. (JDP/JBZ- PIA CAR)