CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company, Inc, (VECO) is expected to begin giving discount to senior citizens this month after the Energy Regulatory Commission released the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the new policy the other day.
As required by law, 15 days after publication of the IRR/guidelines in two newspapers of general circulation, power distribution utilities like VECO can start granting the discounts.
The IRRs set the scope and limitations of the relevant legal provisions, including qualifications of senior citizen-grantees and, thus, avoid conflict in respect of the interpretation and application of the law.
Section 4 (a) of Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” grants a five percent discount on the electricity consumption of senior citizens and Section 5 (d) grants at least 50 percent discount to qualified senior citizens center and residual care/group homes.
VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera, in a press statement, said that VECO continues to accept applications for the five percent discount to households at its SM City Cebu Full Service Center.
Among the basic requirements to avail of the five percent discount are the meter should have been registered in the name of the senior citizen for at least one year, the senior citizen must be residing in the household, monthly consumption does not exceed 100kWh and discount is per household regardless of the number of senior citizens residing therein.
The senior citizen or his representative shall apply for the discount with VECO. There shall be an annual renewal of the application. The applicant must also submit documents as proof of age and citizenship, proof of billing and proof of residence.
Residential senior citizens with multiple accounts can only avail of the senior citizen discount for the place where he/she actually resides.
On the other hand, senior citizen centers, residential care institutions or group homes must be DSWD-accredited to avail of the 50 percent discount as provided for in Section 5(d) of the Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act.
The center must be either government-run or organized and operated by non-stock, non-profit domestic corporations primarily for the purpose of promoting the well-being of abandoned, neglected, unattached or homeless senior citizens.
It must have been in operation for at least 6 months and with a separate meter for electricity.
Natera said that VECO will continue to advise the public on further developments and the actual date that the discount will be given. (FREEMAN)