50% discount on utility bills: only for "homes for the aged"

A household, with a senior citizen under its care, is not entitled to a 50 percent discount on utility bills, clarified the Department of Social Welfare and Development recently.

The DSWD said it is only those facilities, taking care of older people, like the "home for the aged" that is entitled to the discount on utility bills, as provided for in Republic Act 9257, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral explained that the "discount is meant as an institutional support to residential facilities taking care of older persons."

Section 30 of RA 9257 states: "At least 50 percent discount for the consumption of electricity, water, and telephone shall be granted to senior citizens' centers and residential care or group homes... exclusively for the purpose of promoting the well-being of abandoned, neglected, maltreated or homeless senior citizens."

Secretary Cabral said a residential facility must also have a DSWD license and accreditation, with a certification from the regional director that senior citizens are actually utilizing it. These centers or group homes should serve at least six senior citizens on a 24-hour care and service, she added.

The DSWD has been receiving calls from senior citizens asking about the published report about the 50 percent discount on utilities. - Jasmin R. Uy/RAE