DSWD clarifies discount for seniors

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified yesterday that only residential facilities that care for senior citizens may avail themselves of the 50 percent discount in water, electricity and telephone bills.

"Households or families who have a family member who is a senior citizen cannot avail themselves of the 50 percent discount because the discount is only meant as an institutional support to residential facilities taking care of older persons," said Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Residential facilities, she said, refers to homes for the aged and other similar centers.

The discount being granted to these facilities is provided for in Section 30 of Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003. – Shiela Crisostomo