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Senate bill seeks to grant 20% travel tax discount for elderly travelers
Philippines
National
Senate bill seeks to grant 20% travel tax discount for elderly travelers
Senate bill seeks to grant 20% travel tax discount for elderly travelers
Published Aug 4, 2023 10:37 am
A bill seeking to optimize the leisure rights of senior citizens by granting them a 20 percent discount on travel tax is now being pushed in the Senate.
Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, in filing Senate Bill No. 2379, said the bill aims to encourage the elderly to travel, explore new places, and different cultures, to improve their overall quality of life.
(MB file photo)
If approved, Estrada said this will effectively amend Section 4, and expand the coverage of Republic Act No. 7432, otherwise known as “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for other purposes” or the “Senior Citizens Act.” “Para sa mga kagaya ko na senior citizen na at nais na makapag-travel sa iba’t ibang lugar, maging sa ibang bansa, malaking bagay kung may diskwento sa mga gastusin nila lalong lalo na sa mga binabayarang buwis (For senior citizens like me who wish to travel to different places, even in other countries, having a discount would already be a big deal especially on tax payments),” Estrada said. “Para sa mga ordinaryong senior citizens, ang matitipid nila ay maaari nilang ipangtustos sa iba pa nilang mga bayarin (For ordinary senior citizens, they can use their savings to cover for other bills),” he pointed out. The bill, he also said, acknowledges the financial constraints that senior citizens face due to retirement or their fixed incomes. Estrada noted that travel fosters social connections and engagement, which are vital for the mental and emotional well-being of senior citizens and their continued participation in national development. “Kung maisasabatas ito, hindi lang 20 percent at VAT exemptions sa room accommodations, discounts sa restaurants ang mapapakinabangan nila sa pagliliwaliw nila sa iba’t ibang sulok ng bansa (If this can be enacted, not only will they benefit from 20 percent and VAT exemptions on room accommodations, discounts on restaurants when they visit different corners of the country),” he said. Sen. Raffy Tulfo also filed a similar bill, Senate Bill No. 1820, in a bid to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to the country. Tulfo noted that under Presidential Decree (PD) 1183, the amount of travel tax varies from P1,620 for Economy Class, to P2,700 for First Class. Moreover, the Standard Reduced Travel Tax are only made available for minors, accredited Filipino journalists whose travels are for a journalistic assignment, and those authorized by the President of the Philippines for reasons of national interests, the senator said. Under this, the Standard Reduced Tax for First Class is P1,350 while Economy Class is at P810. Meanwhile, the Privileged Reduced Travel Tax, likewise, are also made available only for the legitimate spouse, dependent children under the age of 21 or children with disabilities of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), provided they are traveling to the OFWs worksite. The amount for such travel tax under this category for First Class is P400, while Economy Class is P300. “Given their vulnerability, senior citizens are in need of all the assistance and support from the government and members of society,” Tulfo said in the explanatory note of the bill. “As many senior citizens rely solely on their pension or their families for income, it is imperative to further amend Republic Act No. 7432…by giving senior citizens a 20% discount citizens on travel taxes,” the lawmaker stressed.
(MB file photo)
If approved, Estrada said this will effectively amend Section 4, and expand the coverage of Republic Act No. 7432, otherwise known as “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for other purposes” or the “Senior Citizens Act.” “Para sa mga kagaya ko na senior citizen na at nais na makapag-travel sa iba’t ibang lugar, maging sa ibang bansa, malaking bagay kung may diskwento sa mga gastusin nila lalong lalo na sa mga binabayarang buwis (For senior citizens like me who wish to travel to different places, even in other countries, having a discount would already be a big deal especially on tax payments),” Estrada said. “Para sa mga ordinaryong senior citizens, ang matitipid nila ay maaari nilang ipangtustos sa iba pa nilang mga bayarin (For ordinary senior citizens, they can use their savings to cover for other bills),” he pointed out. The bill, he also said, acknowledges the financial constraints that senior citizens face due to retirement or their fixed incomes. Estrada noted that travel fosters social connections and engagement, which are vital for the mental and emotional well-being of senior citizens and their continued participation in national development. “Kung maisasabatas ito, hindi lang 20 percent at VAT exemptions sa room accommodations, discounts sa restaurants ang mapapakinabangan nila sa pagliliwaliw nila sa iba’t ibang sulok ng bansa (If this can be enacted, not only will they benefit from 20 percent and VAT exemptions on room accommodations, discounts on restaurants when they visit different corners of the country),” he said. Sen. Raffy Tulfo also filed a similar bill, Senate Bill No. 1820, in a bid to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to the country. Tulfo noted that under Presidential Decree (PD) 1183, the amount of travel tax varies from P1,620 for Economy Class, to P2,700 for First Class. Moreover, the Standard Reduced Travel Tax are only made available for minors, accredited Filipino journalists whose travels are for a journalistic assignment, and those authorized by the President of the Philippines for reasons of national interests, the senator said. Under this, the Standard Reduced Tax for First Class is P1,350 while Economy Class is at P810. Meanwhile, the Privileged Reduced Travel Tax, likewise, are also made available only for the legitimate spouse, dependent children under the age of 21 or children with disabilities of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), provided they are traveling to the OFWs worksite. The amount for such travel tax under this category for First Class is P400, while Economy Class is P300. “Given their vulnerability, senior citizens are in need of all the assistance and support from the government and members of society,” Tulfo said in the explanatory note of the bill. “As many senior citizens rely solely on their pension or their families for income, it is imperative to further amend Republic Act No. 7432…by giving senior citizens a 20% discount citizens on travel taxes,” the lawmaker stressed.