SAYING the young also deserve benefits and privileges like those being enjoyed by the elderly, a lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to grant a “junior citizens” discount for children.
Camarines Sur Rep. Villafuerte filed House Bill No. 8312 or the proposed “Junior Citizens Act” which covers all citizens aged 12 years old and younger, including newborns.
“The child is one of the most important assets of the nation. Every effort should be exerted to promote the child’s welfare and enhance his/her opportunities for a useful and happy life,” the bill said.
Under the proposed law, only junior citizens whose family’s annual income does not exceed P250,000 shall be entitled to benefits and privileges, which include the grant of a 20 percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), on the sale of the following goods such as the purchase of medicines, including vaccines and other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment to be determined by the Department of Health (DOH).
The bill tasks the health department to establish guidelines among retailers, manufacturers and distributors, taking into consideration their respective profit margins.
The discount will also apply to the purchase of milk supplements for children aged four to 12 years; the professional fees of attending physician/s in all private hospitals, outpatient clinics and home health care services and home health care service providers.
Medical and dental services, diagnostics and laboratory fees in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health care services, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in coordination with the Philippine Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), are also discounted under the bill as well as admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert hall, circuses, leisure and amusement and funeral and burial services in case of death of junior citizens.
Likewise proposed are free medical and dental services, diagnostics and laboratory fees such as, but not limited to, x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all government facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in coordination with the PhilHealth.
The bill provides that in the purchase of goods and services, which are on promotional discount, the junior citizen can avail of the promotional discount or the discount provided herein, whichever is higher.
The DOH, through the government hospitals and health centers, is additionally tasked to administer all necessary pediatric vaccinations including but not limited to anti-influenza virus and pneumococcal disease for junior citizen patients for free.
