THE City Government has requested the Office of Civil Aviation of the Philippines (CAAP) to grant a 20 percent discount to senior citizens group flying out of the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he wrote already CAAP director-general Ruben Ciron, PhD, informing him that the senior citizens complained having not granted of discounts for the terminal fees.
“Since they get this discount on fares that they purchase, shouldn’t they also be given the same benefit on terminal fees considering that the latter also form part of their traveling expenses,” said Leonardia.
Leonardia cited that the Mactan International Airport has been granting two percent discount on terminal fees for domestic senior citizen passengers which he hopes for the CAAP to grant the same for the senior citizens flying out of the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
Earlier President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which exempts the country's estimated 4.6 million senior citizens from paying the 12-percent expanded value added tax (e-VAT) and to fully enjoy the 20-percent discount on the purchase of essential goods and services.
The bill exempts senior citizens, or those who are 60 years and above, from paying the 12 percent e-VAT on medicines and essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment; fees of attending physicians; medical, dental fees and diagnostic and laboratory fees; fares for buses, jeepneys, taxis, AUVs, shuttle services, public railways, domestic air and sea transport craft.
The tax privilege also applies to services in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments; admission fees in cinemas, theaters and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and funeral and burial services.