Senior citizens to avail water bill discount
ROXAS CITY – The Metro Roxas Water District is set to implement a discount on the water bills of senior citizens.
MRWD Commercial Division Manager Lilibeth Arluz said the Board of Directors will tackle the implementing guidelines spelled out in Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
Arluz said that after the approval of the Board, they will immediately implement a five-percent discount on the water bills of senior citizens.
Under the law, senior citizens may enjoy a five-percent discount on their water and electric bills, on condition that the utilities are in the name of senior citizen and that the consumption is below 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 30 cubic meters water a month.
Earlier, the Capiz Electric Cooperative has also vowed to implement the discount on electric bill of senior citizens after they will receive the implementing rules and regulations.
It is estimated that some 4.6 million senior citizens will be exempted from the payment of the 12 percent expanded value added tax (EVAT) on basic purchases and other essential goods and services.
The EVAT exemption for the senior citizens, or those who are 60 years old and above, applies to purchases of medicines and essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment; fees of attending physicians; medical, dental fees and diagnostic and laboratory fees; fares for buses, jeepneys, taxis, AUVs, shuttle services, public railways, domestic air and sea transport craft.
It also applies to services in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments; admission fees in cinemas, theaters and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and funeral and burial services.
In addition, the law grants each senior citizen a monthly stipend of P500, and in case of death of an indigent senior citizen, the nearest kin will be given P2,000 as benefit assistance.*PIA
