House OKs on final reading bill giving higher discount for senior citizens' electricity, water bills

Published January 17, 2022 03:57 PM By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA News

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to increase the rate of discount being granted to senior citizens on their monthly electric and water consumptions.

During the plenary session on Monday, 203 lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill 10568 or An Act Increasing the Discount Rate and Exempting from the Value Added Tax the Monthly Electric and Water Consumption Granted to Senior Citizens, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, Otherwise Known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2020."

Nueva Ecija Representative Estrellita Suansing, one of the authors of the bill, earlier said this measure is beneficial for senior citizens who are only relying on their pensions and the contribution of their children who are still living with them.

The bill grants a minimum 10% discount relative to the monthly utilization of water and electricity supplied by the public utilities and exemption from the value added tax.

"Provided that the individual meters for the foregoing utilities are registered in the name of the senior citizen residing therein: Provided, further, that the monthly consumption does not exceed 150 kwh of electricity and 30 cubic meters of water," the measure added.

According to the measure, the privilege is granted per household regardless of the number of senior citizens residing there.—AOL, GMA News

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