15 FEBRUARY 2010

CONTACT PERSONS

FRANSISKUS CUPANG, COSE executive director, 722-0481, 725-6567, 0918-3244722

VON MESINA, KAMP co-facilitator, 0920-4743241

MANILA—A bigger contingent of 2,000 elderly Filipinos, some in walking sticks, and their supporters marched to Mendiola to push for the immediate signing of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (ESCA) which would among others exempt them from the value-added tax (VAT).

“Wag nyo na kami hintayin mamatay. Pirmahan nyo na. Now na!,” read a streamer at the mass action staged to dramatize the urgency of implementing the measure that would help the estimated 7 million Filipino elderly live a life of dignity.

“But Valentine’s Day came and went and we still don’t have the President’s signature on ESCA. Older people are dying every day,” said Salvacion Basiano, member of the Council of Leaders of the Confederation of Older Persons’ Association of the Philippines (COPAP).

Government health statistics show that Filipinos 60 years old and older account for 49.1 percent of all deaths in the country. The mortality rate among older persons ranges from double to 12 times that for all age groups.

Fransiskus Kupang, executive director of the Coalition of Services for the Elderly Inc. (COSE), said the projected loss revenue is small compared to the huge benefit to the elderly.

“Konting-konti lang hinihingi ng ating mga nakatatanda sa mga huling sandali ng kanilang buhay. Bakit ipinagkakait pa sa kanila?” said Kupang.

Initially, the government said the bill would cost some P54.4 million in foregone revenues. Now, the government raised the figure to P1.68 billion.

Under the measure, the VAT exemption will apply to medicines, accessories, and equipment; fees of attending physicians; medical, dental fees and diagnostic and laboratory fees; and fares for public transportation.

The VAT exemption will also be applied on admission fees in cinemas and other leisure and culture activities; services in hotels, restaurants, and similar establishments; and to the funeral and burial services for the death of senior citizens.

Von Francis Mesina, co-facilitator of the Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP or the Life of Dignity for All Campaign), said the delay in the signing of the bill reflects the callousness of the Arroyo administration to the plight of the vulnerable sectors of society.

“Ang tigas ng puso ng administrasyong ito. Kailangang-kailangan ng ating mga lolo’t lola ang mga probisyon na nasa ESCA,” Mesina said.

“Wag na nating pahintayin pa sila. Wag na nating pahirapan pa sila,” he said.

Mesina said that compared to the P1-billion promotional budget of the President’s accomplishments during her term, the foregone revenues would benefit Filipino citizens directly.

“The position of the Department of Finance and the non-signing of GMA of the ESCA shows that the present government prefers to protect the interest of business rather than the interest of the elderly.”

“Additional operational cost to businesses cannot match the urgency of the benefits that ESCA would provide the elderly, not even by an inch. We see the hidden hands of corporate interests here,” Mesina said, referring to the DOF position paper which says that the proposed VAT exemption could represent an added cost to the business sector.

Aside from exempting senior citizens from the 12-percent value-added tax, the bill also seeks to provide social protection measures such as free medical services in government hospitals, free membership to PhilHealth, a monthly pension of P500 to the poorest among them, and 5 percent discount on their water and electric bills.

The march from Morayta to Mendiola and the short rally that followed it was the second in two weeks.

The protest action came after conflicting government reactions to the bill.  On February 11, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to veto ESCA claiming it would cost the government P1.68 billion in lost revenues as well as complicate VAT administration.

This is opposite the February 3 statement of acting Social Welfare Secretary Cecilia Capadocia-Yangco, who said the President was “eager” to sign the measure. Some government officials even said the President was scheduled to sign the bill on or before Valentine’s Day.