SENIOR Citizens in the Summer Capital have called on the national government not to impose the proposed exemption on 12 percent value added tax during their reign at the Baguio City Hall for the Senior Citizens Officers of the Day (SCOFAD).
During the council session on Monday, SCOFAD – Councilor Loreta Umali expressed opposition to the proposed removal of the exemption granted to senior citizens from VAT as provided under Republic Act 99949.
Umali’s proposal stemmed from the administration’s plan of removing the exemption granted to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) from VAT to cover for revenue losses from cutting individual and corporate income taxes.
But Senators Ralph Recto and Joel Villanueva have earlier rejected the proposal to take away the exemptions granted to senior citizens and PWDs, which was part of the tax reform package prepared by the Department of Finance.
Umali added said the proposed measure will affect the welfare of the senior citizens, not only in the Summer Capital but also nationwide considering it neither advances their interest nor give full support to the improvement of their total well-being as an elderly in the society.
The SCOFAD official added the Expanded Senior Citizens Act were primarily enacted to enhance the lives of the senior citizens as individuals and to allow them to enjoy their advancing years in peace, health and security.
Copies of the resolution were forwarded to Congress and the Department of Finance for their information and appropriate action.
Umali was among the 20 senior citizens who "took over" the City Hall with former Councilor Virgilio Bautista unseating Congressman Mark Go while Margarita Mariñas deposed Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Felix Bentayen took over as the council's presiding officer and vice mayor while the councilors include Umali, Andrew Sagandoy, Rufina Manongdo, Jesus Luzadas, Margaret Tolero, Josephine Flores, Benjamin Tiago, Lourdes Tiaken, Reynaldo Roldan, Rodolfo Abella, Wilda Diaz, James Gomez and Daniel Lee.
Acting as department heads are Cesar Policarpio (City Accountant), Gloria Molina (City Administrator), Cristina Estipona (City Assessor), Florenda Bayuga (City Audit), Mila Dar (City Budget Officer), Albert Madarang (City Building and Architecture Officer), Filomena Baldas (City Civil Registrar), Atty. Gabino Chao-ayan(DepEd Superintendent), Luz Pascua (DILG City Director) Elicardo Sualog (City Engineer), Lilia Cestona (CEPMO), Florence Valenciano (General Services Officer), Frnacis Mamuri (City Health Officer), Leonora Safoket (Human Resource Officer), Rodolfo Estolas (City Legal Officer), Rosemarie Lim (City Planning and Development Officer), Robert Molina (City Secretary) Rosviminda Orig (City Social Welfare and Development Officer), Cristeta Antionio (City Treasurer) and Clarita Quitaleg (City Veterinarian). (Roderick Osis)