BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance requiring a notice of the 20 percent discount and exemption from the payment of value added tax (VAT) whenever applicable granted to persons with disabilities to be displayed in noticeable places inside public utility vehicles (PUVs), public and private medical and dental facilities, drug stores, hotels, restaurants, theaters and other covered services and business establishments and providing penalties for violations.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Arthur Alad-iw stated the permits and Licensing Division and the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Officer under the City Mayor’s Office and the Baguio City Police Office Traffic Division or any task force, entity or authority created or commissioned and tasked to check on business and traffic-related issues are also ordered to make sure that establishments will comply with the posting of the aforesaid notice.
Under the ordinance, personnel of the Permits and Licensing Division and a representative from the PDAO shall inspect all registered and covered business establishments to record those who are non-compliant and business permits of non-compliant establishments shall be confiscated and surrendered at the PDAO.
On the other hand the BCPO traffic management branch shall issue citation tickets for drivers or operators of public utility vehicles found violating the provisions of the ordinance and the license plate number of the vehicles shall be confiscated and surrendered to the PDAO.
The ordinance stated the PDAO shall release the confiscated license plate numbers and business permits only upon presentation by the owner or operator of the receipt of payment of the required fine or penalty issued by the City Treasury Office.
Violators of the provisions of the ordinance shall be given a stern warning for the first offense, a fine of P3,000 for the second offense and a fine of P5,000, confiscation of vehicle plate or business permit and stern warning to the operators and owners for the third offense.
In International laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of PWDs and local laws such as Republic Act (RA) 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons aim for the improvement of the total well-being of disabled persons.
Recently, the PWDs started enjoying tax exemption benefits at par with the perks and privileges granted to senior citizens when former President Benigno S. Aquino signed into law Republic Act (RA) 10754 which expanded the benefits and privileges of persons with disabilities amending Section 32 of RA 7277 which provides that PWDs shall be entitled to at least 20 percent discount and exemption from the value added tax, if applicable, on the sale of goods and services for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availament of the PWD.
The ordinance stated the notice shall be printed on a long bond paper using font 20 preferably in Tahoma or in tarpaulins. For public utility vehicles, it shall be posted or displayed visibly where it can be read by all the passengers inside the vehicle and in loading stations.
For private and medical or dental facilities, drug stores, hotels, restaurants, theaters and other covered services and business establishments, the notice shall be posted preferably over the chasier’s or sales counters or receiving areas.
By Dexter A. See
