Solon walks in crutches in solidarity with PWDs

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin “FM” G. Romualdez (center), using crutches, join the starting line one kilometer run for Persons With Disability category during the Divine World University’s 50th anniversary celebration in Tacloban City. Romualdez is the author of House Bill 1039 exempting persons with disability from the value-added tax on certain goods and services. Photo by Ver Noveno

MANILA, Philippines— A sitting congressman joined persons-with-disabilities in a fun run in Tacloban City on Sunday.

Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez used crutches as he joined the PWDs in a 1.1-kilometer run as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Liceo del Verbo Divino school in Tacloban City.

The congressman had filed a bill in the House of Representatives advocating tax exemption for PWDs.

House Bill 1039, which seeks to amend the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, wants to exempt PWDs from paying value added tax (VAT) on the following: medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers.

“This is an equalizing measure because this will accord PWDs exactly the same privilege enjoyed by senior citizens, who are exempted from the VAT by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 9994,” Romualdez said.

“Persons with disability effectively enjoy only P12 for every P100 worth of good or service because the law does not exempt them from VAT, which is imposed on the net value of the good or service or 10 percent of the P80 after deducting P20, representing the 20 percent discount granted in RA 9442, for every P100 worth of good or service purchased,” he added.

The bill was approved on third and final reading last December and has been transmitted to the Senate. AJH