How to avail of the privileges for the senior citizen in the Philippines?

Elderly Filipino Week is commemorated every October 1 to 7 by Proclamation No. 470, issued by then-President Fidel Ramos on September 26, 1994.

Senior citizens in the Philippines are entitled to various privileges and benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Here are the steps on how to avail of these privileges:

1. Apply for a senior citizen ID card - Visit your local Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) or Office of the Mayor to apply for a senior citizen ID card. Bring a valid ID and proof of age (birth certificate, passport, or any government-issued ID). The ID card is necessary to avail of senior citizen privileges.

2. Avail of discounts - Present your senior citizen ID card when purchasing goods and services to avail of discounts. Senior citizens are entitled to a 20% discount on the regular price of goods and services, such as medicines, food, transportation fare, and hotel accommodations. Some establishments may offer higher discounts.

3. Avail of income tax exemption - Senior citizens who are considered to be minimum wage earners and are not engaged in business or practice of profession are exempted from paying income tax.

4. Avail of social pension - Indigent senior citizens who are not receiving any pension or financial assistance from the government can apply for a social pension. Visit the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office or your local government unit (LGU) to apply.

5. Avail of healthcare benefits - Senior citizens are entitled to PhilHealth benefits, which include free medical and dental services, as well as a discount on hospital bills. Senior citizens can also avail of free flu and pneumonia vaccinations in government health centers.

Remember that these privileges are only applicable to Filipino citizens aged 60 and above.

Section 4 of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, specifically item (3), provides that "other documents that establish that the senior citizen is a citizen of the Republic and is at least sixty (60) years of age as further provided in the implementing rules and regulations" may also be recognized as valid proof of age and citizenship for senior citizens who do not have a Senior Citizen ID card.

This means that if a senior citizen does not have a Senior Citizen ID card, they may still be able to avail of senior citizen privileges and benefits by presenting other valid government-issued IDs or documents, such as a passport, driver's license, birth certificate, or any other document that can prove their age and citizenship.

However, the specific types of IDs or documents that will be recognized and accepted may vary depending on the implementing rules and regulations set by the local government units and other concerned agencies.

20100215-RA-9994-GMA.pdf

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Source: Ziggurat Real Estate

Regions show positive economic growth in 2022

The economies of 17 regions in the Philippines continued to record positive growths in 2022, with Western Visayas having the fastest expansion at 9.3 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

The second fastest was that of the Cordillera Administrative Region at 8.7 percent, followed by Davao Region at 8.15 percent.

The other six regions with growth rates above the national level were Central Luzon, 8.11 percent; Bicol Region, 8.06 percent; Cagayan Valley, 8.0 percent; Calabarzon, 7.8 percent; Central Visayas, 7.64 percent; and Ilocos Region, 7.60 percent.

At the national level, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by a 46-year high of 7.6 percent in 2022, an improvement from previous year's growth of 5.7 percent, with all 16 industries recording positive growths.

The top industries with the highest growths were accommodation and food service activities, 32.1 percent; other services, 28.4 percent; and transportation and storage, 23.9 percent.

In terms of expenditures, the ones with the highest growths were imports of goods and services, 13.9 percent; gross capital formation, 13.8 percent; and exports of goods and services, 10.9 percent.

For regional performance of services in 2022, the National Capital Region (NCR) posted the biggest share at 42.0 percent, followed by Calabarzon and Central Luzon at 10.7 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.

On the share of each region to the whole Industry, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) has the largest share at 25.3 percent, followed by NCR, 19.0 percent; and Central Luzon, 15.7 percent.

For agriculture, forestry and fishing, Central Luzon is first at 13.7 percent, followed by Northern Mindanao and Western Visayas at 10.5 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.

Household spending in 2022 increased for all regions with Western Visayas posting the highest growth rate at 12.2 percent. The NCR, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao followed at 10.2 percent, 9.6 percent and 8.39 percent, respectively.

On government spending, all regions posted positive growths. The NCR is first at 7.4 percent, followed by Ilocos Region at 4.5 percent, Central Luzon at 4.23 percent and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) at 4.16 percent.

Gross Capital Formation posted growth rates in all regions. Cordillera Administrative Region posted the fastest growth at 71.2 percent, followed by Cagayan Valley at 39.6 percent and Bicol Region at 28.8 percent.

Western Visayas topped the regional economies with 8.4 percent per capita growth rate. This was followed by Cordillera Administrative Region at 7.8 percent, Bicol Region at 7.1 percent and Cagayan Valley at 7.0 percent.

Source: Manila Times

USAID is working to improve water quality and service in San Carlos City

USAID is working hard to improve water quality and service in San Carlos City and Calamianes Island, providing assistance to water utilities in these areas.

USAID provided formal training on water quality assurance to 65 personnel from public and private water service providers (WSPs), improving the technical and operational capacities of 17 WSPs in Calamianes.

In San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, USAID conducted routine monitoring of water quality and based on findings trained WSPs address water quality issues.

By doing so, USAID is helping protect public health and promote economic development in these communities.

ASAID water.pdf

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Source: SCLGU and ASAID