DSWD: Report abuse of senior citizens' law

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling on citizens to report establishments violating the senior citizens’ law. The DSWD has set up help desks nationwide to address violations of Republic Act (R.A.) 9994, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which began to be implemented on Tuesday. According to a report of Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus on Thursday, DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said the help desks will allow them to address immediately any violations of the law by some establishments. At the same time, Soliman appealed to senior citizens not to abuse the law by using for their family members the discounts intended only for seniors. The DSWD warned establishment owners could be slapped with a hefty fine and face a jail term of up to one year if they do not grant a full 20-percent discount on medicines, goods and services. “Pag di sumunod, may tinik ang batas na ito. Pwedeng magsampa ng kaso sa kanila, pwedeng dalhin ang kaso sa central office namin ... Kung mapatunayan na di nagbigay ng kaukulang serbisyo sa senior citizens may parusa doon ... six months to one year and a fine (Establishments that do not follow the law may face charges. If found guilty, they face jail terms of six months to one year, and a fine)," Soliman said in an interview on dzBB radio Tuesday. Regarding the other senior citizen benefits provided for by the new law, such as discounts on electric and water bills, Soliman said these are still being worked out. Soliman added that the DSWD is still working out the mechanics of a monthly pension for senior citizens from poor families. Last month, former DSWD Acting Secretary Celia Yangco signed the implementing rules and regulations for the expanded senior citizens’ act. The act exempts senior citizens from the 12-percent value added tax, allowing them full 20-percent discount on purchases. The discount covers purchases of medicine and essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment; medical, dental, and diagnostic and laboratory fees; fares for buses, jeepneys, taxis, shuttle services, railways, domestic air and sea transports. It also grants five-percent discount on utilities registered in the names of the senior citizens, provided that the consumption does not exceed 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 30 cubic meters of water per month. There are roughly six million senior citizens in the country. Small establishments, drugstores, and pharmacies earlier expressed concern about the 20-percent discount on medicines, which account for the bulk of the purchases of many senior citizens. Finance officials had estimated the law may translate to government revenue losses of up to P1.7 billion. – VVP, GMANews.TV