Isinusulong sa Kamara de Representantes sa pangunguna ni Speaker Martin Romualdez ang panukalang batas na palawakin ang bisa ng diskuwento ng senior citizens at persons with disabilities (PWD), at gamitin maging sa mga produkto o serbisyo na naka-“promo,” o mas mababa na ang halaga kumpara sa orihinal na presyo.  

Sa kasalukuyang, mayroong 20% discount at libre sa 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) ang mga senior citizens at PWDs.

Layunin ng panukala na, “the discount granted to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, including the 20% discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services, or the special discount on purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities, will be in addition to any prevailing promotional offers or discounts extended by business establishments, if any, has been provided, but in no way that it will require presentation of booklets in the procurement of goods.”

Dagdag pa rito, nakasaad sa panukala na ang mga promo o diskuwento na inaalok ng isang establisimyento ay hindi ituturing na pagsunod sa Section 4 ng Senior Citizens Act at Section 32 ng Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, na kapuwea inamyendahan.

Ang panukala ay nakapaloob sa House Bill 16 na inihain ni Romualdez, kasama sina Tingog party-list Reps. Andrew Julian Romualdez at Jude Acidre, bilang mga co-author.

“This bill aims to preserve the preferential treatment accorded to senior citizens and persons with disabilities by mandating the State to adopt an integrated approach on how to make essential programs and other social services available to them in an attainable and convenient manner,” ani Romualdez, na muling aasintahin ang posisyon na Speaker sa papasok na 20th Congress.

 “This is in line with the state policy of promoting a just and dynamic social order that shall ensure the nation’s prosperity and free its people from poverty,” dagdag ng mga may-akda.

Nakapasa sa Kamara nitong nagtapos na 19th Congress ang katulad panukala na inihain ng mga kongresista na sina Joey Salceda (Albay), Rodolfo "Ompong" Ordanes (Senior Citizens party-list), at Alfelito "Alfel" Bascug (Agusan del Sur). Pero hindi naman nakalusot ang bersiyon ng panukala sa Senado, kaya hindi umusad.

Magbubukas ang First Regular Session ng 20th Congress sa July 28, kung saan maghahalal ang mga kongresista ng kanilang Speaker. Pipili rin ng kanilang Senate President ang mga senador, na kasalukuyang hawak ni Sen. Francis Escudero. — mula sa ulat ni Llanesca T. Panti/FRJ, GMA Integrated News