Manila, Philippines – A measure granting 50 percent discount and value-added tax exemption on the sale of goods and services to Filipino centenarians or those persons 100 years of age or above has been approved by an influential committee in the House of Representatives.
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, vice chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, approved tax provisions contained under Section 5 of House Bill No. 834, urging House leadership to fast track its passage for centenarians to immediately enjoy benefits and privileges while they are still living.
“The approval is a gesture of recognition of our centenarians for living a healthy lifestyle and to help them in their economic condition,” Umali said.
Earlier, the House Committee on Population and Family Relation approved the proposal to amend the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 but recommended the referral of the measure to Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, the chairman of House panel dealing with taxes.
The House Committee on Ways and Means also referred the “Centenarians Act of 2010” to the plenary for second reading after fulfilling its task to study tax provisions contained in House Bill No. 834, which was authored by House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. (Rio Rose Ribaya)