QUEZON City Representative Marvin Rillo wants to expand the transportation and road-use privileges of the country’s elderly by granting them a discount on fees levied by toll operators.
“Senior citizens who own motor vehicles deserve special access to [the Skyways] and expressways, including a 20-percent reduction in toll charges,” Rillo said in a news release.
In the solon’s proposed in House Bill 5277, elderly citizens would enjoy the concession for all toll fees payable via radio frequency identification (RFID) or similar devices.
To avail of the discount, the motor vehicle must be registered under the ownership of a senior citizen, who must then submit a copy of his or her ID card to the expressway or Skyway operator when applying for RFID installation.
“Our measure seeks to give more meaning to the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the State to prioritize the rights and welfare of the elderly,” Rillo stated.
His bill requires the Department of Transportation’s Toll Regulatory Board and other agencies to enforce the specially reduced rates for seniors. The measure seeks to further upgrade the Expanded Senior Citizens Law that bestows Filipinos who are 60 years old and above a wide range of perks.
At present senior citizens enjoy a 20-percent discount and value-added tax exemption on airline and ship-passenger tickets, as well as on fares of railways and public-utility vehicles, including shuttle and ride-hailing services.
In addition, they are currently exempt from paying airport and seaport passenger terminal fees.
Rillo earlier filed a separate bill seeking to grant persons with disabilities, or PWDs, a similar 20-percent on the toll prices of access-controlled roads.