Republic Act 10754: Understanding the Expanded Benefits and Privileges of the Pinoy PWD

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), like our beloved Senior Citizens, are rightfully entitled to additional benefits and privileges such as discounts and VAT exemptions at pharmacies, groceries, and dining establishments.  They should also be given priority in public transportation and parking spaces, cashier lines, and access ways such as elevators and escalators.

For everybody’s information, we summarized the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10754 or the Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWDs).  This was signed by the DSWD, DOH, and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) last December 2016, and is enforced in all parts of the country.  This should help us appreciate the privileges entitled to the PWDs in our families, workplaces, and communities.

I. Discounts and VAT Exemptions

1. At least 20% discount and VAT exemption on goods and services availed at the following establishments:
   • Hotel and similar lodging establishments
   • Restaurants
   • Recreation centers
   • Theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusement.
   • Medicine
   • Medical and dental services, including diagnostic and laboratory fees and professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities (subject to guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health in coordination with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation)
   • Domestic air and sea travel
   • Public railways, skyways, and other public utility vehicles (including buses, jeeps, taxis, and shuttle services).
   • Funeral and burial services for the death of the PWD.
2. 5% discount on the following:
   • Basic necessities such as:
     • Rice, corn, bread, fresh or dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed milk, infant formula, fresh vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, firewood, charcoal, candles and other commodities as may be classified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
   • Prime commodities such as:
     • Fresh fruits, dried or processed or canned pork, beef and poultry, meat, dairy products not falling under basic necessities, noodles, onions, garlic, diapers, herbicides, poultry, swine and cattle feeds, veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle, paper, school supplies, nipa shingle, plyboard, construction nails, batteries, electrical supplies, light bulbs, steel wire, and other commodities that may be classified by the DTI and DA.
     • Purchase must not exceed Php 1,300 per week to enjoy the 5% discount.

II. Guidelines when availing discounts:

1. A purchase booklet must be presented to the store or retailer every time a purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities is made.
2. Double discounts is strictly prohibited; the privilege shall not be granted if the PWD claims a higher discount as may be granted by the retail establishment and/or under other existing laws or in combination with other discount programs such as those extended to senior citizens.
3. If the PWD is not able to physically purchase the basic necessities, he must appoint an authorized representative through a date authorization letter.  The representative must present a valid government-issued identification document together with the LGU-issued identification document of the concerned PWD.

III. Other benefits and mandates under the IRR:

1. The law covers educational assistance for all levels, social insurance through GSIS, SSS, and Pag-IBIG.
2. Express lane privileges in all commercial and government establishments.
3. Tax incentives for those caring for and living with persons with disability up to the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity.
4. The benefits and privileges are available only to PWD who are Filipino citizens and upon submission of identifications that would prove his or her entitlement.
5. In this regard, the PWD is free to present any of the following IDs and these must be honored by establishments:
   • An ID issued by the city or municipal mayor or the barangay captain of the place where the PWD resides;
   • Passport of PWD;
   • Transportation discount fare ID issued by the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP).
6. Different cities and provinces have special ordinances implemented in their respective areas for PWDs:
   • PWDs residing in Quezon City enjoy free movie admission on Mondays and Tuesdays until 5pm at QC malls.
   • Zamboanga City has a Community Action and Resources for Accessible, Better and Leverage Environment (CARe-ABLE) for PWDs, providing enhanced social protection projects and activities for PWDs.

You may contact your city or municipal hall for the details of special programs for PWDs in the area.

It pays to be well-informed to ensure that you get to enjoy the perks and privileges granted by our government for special cases in our communities.  Share this with families and friends!

Sources:

http://www.gov.ph

http://www.ncda.gov.ph