Act swiftly on laws for senior citizens

The enactment of the so-called TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) Act has been thoroughly discussed in the Inquirer that it has generated a lot of attention.

Filed on Jan. 17, 2017, in the House of Representatives, where tax bills have to originate, it was approved on May 31, 2017, and the Senate version was approved on Nov. 28, 2017, and signed by President Duterte on Dec. 19, 2017.

The TRAIN was enacted by Congress in record time. In my 23 years of working in the House, I can say the TRAIN swiftly navigated through a legislative express lane. I would disagree, however, with some insinuations that the TRAIN was railroaded, because it was sufficiently deliberated upon in the committee on appropriations with all sectors duly heard and at the plenary sessions.

This shows that Congress can really accomplish much needed legislation if both chambers expedite the proceedings. Kudos to the 17th Congress.

Now, we in the seniors sector of our society would like to ask Congress to invest the same vigor and intensity in enacting bills that grant more benefits to seniors.

We suggest that the House facilitate deliberations on:

1. House Bill No. 6719 filed by Rep. Francisco G. Datol Jr. of the Senior Citizens party-list. This bill seeks to amend rate of tax deduction for private firms that employ seniors. Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, private firms employing senior citizens can deduct 15 percent of total salaries paid to seniors as tax deductible. While a later law allows private firms employing persons with disability to deduct 25 percent of salaries paid to PWDs, as tax deduction. Granting the same rate of tax deduction will encourage more private firms to employ qualified seniors.

2. Congress should also conduct an oversight hearing on the implementation of the Portability Law. Seniors who retired under the Portability Law are not entitled to a cash gift at year-end, increase in pension and milestone bonuses for those who reach 90, 95 and 100 years of age. All other retirees are given these three benefits, which are denied the retirees under the Portability Law.

We seniors would like to see equality in benefits because we also deserve equity and justice and not discrimination.

We hope Congress will employ the same “political will” that they had with the TRAIN.

MAFEO R. VIBAL, vice president-external affairs and legislative liaison officer, Philippine Association
of Retired Persons, mafeovibal@gmail.com