Monday, August 25, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
A Metro Manila lawmaker filed a bill exempting senior citizens from the payment of any tax on real property.
Rep. Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan City filed House Bill No. 4530, or the “An Act Exempting Senior Citizens From The Payment Of Real Property Tax Of Their Family Homes And The Land On Which It Is Situated.”
In a statement, Malapitan said that with the imposition of increased real property assessments on family homes, senior citizens who live below the poverty line would not be able to pay these almost confiscatory real property taxes.
He lamented that while individuals or non-governmental institutions establishing homes, residential communities or retirement villages solely for senior citizens have already been extended realty tax exemption, senior citizens themselves have not been granted such a benefit.
“The same privilege must likewise be accorded to senior citizens as regards their properties,” Malapitan said.
“Senior citizens are now in the twilight years of their lives and most of them, having retired from work, have no sufficient income to support their daily needs particularly at this time when prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed beyond the reach of minimum wage earners,” Malapitan added.
The proposed measure seeks to amend Sec. 4 of Republic Act 7432, otherwise known as the Senior Citizens Act.--Sammy Martin
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