PWDs seek tax breaks

Groups representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) called on Congress to provide them added assistance by approving measures that exempt them from the value-added tax and grant them and their guardians P25,000 in tax exemptions.

At a legislative hearing on the measure, finance and revenue officials said they had no objections to providing PWDs additional assistance but wanted safeguards to prevent the abuse of the privilege. Finance assistant secretary Soledad Cruz said the incentives would mean a revenue loss of about P1 billion to P2 billion, urging lawmakers to consider other methods, such as a subsidy, for assisting PWDs.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chair of the Ways and Means committee hearing the proposed measure, said the projected revenue loss was not that big and could be offset by other pending tax measures.

“We should strike a balance, that when a country is progressing, it should provide better care for sectors like those of the disabled,” Angara told reporters.