Senior citizens’ discount on water, power use clarified

In response to Godofredo O. Peteza’s letter (“Discount on elderly’s power consumption,” Opinion, 8/7/15) regarding the discount of senior citizens on power consumption, I respectfully submit the following:

1. When I guested at the 71st Supreme Council meeting of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, I did not say that senior citizens are entitled to a “20-percent discount on the monthly use of electricity under Republic Act No. 9257 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003).” I said they are entitled to a 5-percent discount provided that: the consumption does not exceed 100 kWh in the case of electricity and 30 cubic meters in the case of water; and the individual meters for these utilities are registered in their name, as provided under Section 4(c) of RA 9994or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which is now the prevailing law.
2. RA 7432, which was passed in 1992, was the first law for senior citizens but it applied only to Filipino citizens who have reached 60 years old, with income of not more than P60,000 per annum. Under that law, the senior citizens’ benefits were limited to, among others, 20-percent discount on the purchase of goods and services, without VAT (value-added tax) exemption.
3. In 2003, RA 9257 was enacted and extended the coverage of RA 7432 to all Filipino citizens who are at least 60 years old, with or without income; it also exempted them from VAT on the purchase of goods and services.
4. In 2010, RA 9994 was passed, amending RA 7432 and RA 9257. It added the 5-percent discount on water and power consumption, but without VAT exemption.

I, therefore, suggest to Peteza that he register with these public utilities to inform them that he is a senior citizen and that the meters are registered in his name.

May I also inform Peteza and other senior citizens that only recently I made representation with a senator, proposing an amendment to RA 9994 so that the 5-percent discount on water and power given to senior citizens would be applied to the consumption of “the first 150 kWh and first 50 cubic meters of water” of every month, instead of the present provision which extends the privilege only if the consumption “does not exceed 100 kWh and 30 cubic meters of water.” I personally gave the proposed measure to Sen. Grace Poe when she guested in my radio show recently, and she immediately filed the bill in the Senate; it has been docketed as Senate Bill No. 2884.

—ROMULO B. MACALINTAL, senior citizens’ rights advocate, Las Piñas City