My friend Bob sent me a link to an interesting article this am. It seems that after many years of floundering about the Department of Tourism might finally be getting the message,.
Read the article on the possible extension of senior citizen privileges here:
DOT: It’s more fun to be a senior in Philippines
MANILA, Philippines—Soon it will be more fun being a senior citizen in the Philippines, which is heading toward becoming the first country in the world to give discounts to retirees of any nationality.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said Thursday that a policy is in the works that will entitle foreign senior citizens visiting the Philippines to the same 20 percent discount on goods and services enjoyed by elderly Filipinos.
“By the end of the year, the Philippines could be the first country in the world to grant discounts to all senior citizens arriving in the Philippines,” Jimenez said in a speech at a general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club. … Read more
Now I don’t want to sound negative, but there is a reason I highlighted the word “possible” above is, the Philippines is full of “plans” that are due to be implemented, someday.
When I read Secretary Jimenez’s prediction that the rules will be changed by “By the end of the year”, I chuckled. It brought back memories of years back when I worked with my dad. My father was the maintenance and construction manager for ac company back in Newark NJ who rented office space. Clients were always asking for modifications, new construction, electrical work and such for there offices. My dad had a standard reply when the asked when the work would be done. “By the end of the year”. Then, dad would turn to me, privately, and chuckle. “Did you notice I was careful not to say which year”?
I was reminded of this ‘standard policy’ a couple days ago when I was driving down a provincial highway and encountered a a sign stating there was abridge out ahead. I happened to notice the sign had prominently displayed the logo of a big Philippine project, the “North rail System” … extending the existing Philippine National rail system north to the new Manila airport at Clark air base, north of the city.
The “North Rail” (which is still very much needed) was a big, going concern when my wife and I moved here nearly six years back. Matter of act, we selected our current home based on the fact we would be nearly in walking distance to a station on the North rail. We’d be able to hop on a clean, modern, high-speed train and zip right into the city, avoiding traffic, crating less pollution, etc.
Well that was six years ago and absolutely nothing has been done in nearly five years on the North Rail.
It was already funded by a loan from China, of all places, and by today the trains should be zipping back and forth, helping to relieve Manila’s choking, desperate traffic problems. The money is all spent, long gone, on what nobody can actually say … and all the remains as a reminder is a huge weed-choked lot where the station was supposed to be and a few re-purposed road signs.
So, while I hope the secretary’s prediction comes true, I won’t hold my breath about the “By the end of the year” prediction. We shall see.
Meanwhile, those of you who haven’t yet done so should read my article on the possibility of going to jail over a bucket of chicken.
…Only Philippine Citizens may legally use the discounts and other benefits covered by RA 9994. I get questions more often than you might think regarding this question, and I see it discussed, sometimes Ad nauseam, in groups and forums of interest to foreigners living in the Philippines. (oh, and by the way, if you are a former Filipino (as in living here under a 13(g) permanent visa, you are not a Filipino citizen for the purposes of this law, so the law does not cover you either.) The language was written the way it is for a specific purpose … to distinctly define who is eligible … and there are a number of my foreigner friends, for example, who have long believed they were entitled to the senior discount privileges … and even some who already avail of them … but the new law is pretty specific. Only Philippine Citizens are covered. …
Keep in mind for today, the law regarding the Senior Citizen Discount is very strict regarding the criminality of foreigners (and even Filipinos who don’t live in the Philippines) “availing” of the government’s senior citizen discount.
To me, a senor citizen discount is not worth jail and deportation. As to others? YMMV.
Dave: It’s sometimes funny to read some of the expat blogs when something like this is mentioned. The endless debate and pontificating that goes on. What always gets me is that, sometimes in the same sentence, someone will be rambling about the amount of money foreigners spend here and then immediately want the senior discount.
In this case, I really don’t see this bringing in huge numbers of tourists. Would saving P50 on a bucket of Jollibee make you come here instead of Malaysia?
I would suggest that better publicity on the SRRV would bring the tourism department far more in terms of visitors.
Can’t say I disagree at all, John. But be that as it may, the DoT is one government department. the SRRV is ‘the rice bowl” of another government department, the Philippine Retirement Authority. I see very little chance of serious cooperation between the two.
While I share your desire to have the senior citizen discount extended to foreigners, remember that the government or any government for that matter is able to extend this benefit for the reason that senior “citizens” are considered to have “paid into the system” through taxation during their working lives. Consequently, once they retire and become less productive, the government deems it wise to extend assistance to the “citizen” in the form of discounts.
Foreigners unlike the citizens have not paid into the system. But don’t get me wrong, I am all for it, if only as a tourism come on.
Actually, Claudette, I guess I was too subtle. Note the question mark in the title? Is this a step in the right direction? frankly I think programs that focus on cheapness and special privileges just attract the wrong sort of retiree. See John’s comments above. I personally feel there should be much more strict income requirements for retirement in the Philippines. there are lot of foreigners here who don’t have enough income to live here in ‘safety” 9as in being able to cope with medical expenses and such). If the Senior Citizen discount means _that_ much to a foreigner retiree, as in it would make or break the decision about retiring here, I’d say anyone li9ivng that close to the line should stay home.
I’m no big proponent of Senior Citizen discounts in general. In the US where they are way more common and less structured/regulated, I seldom avail of them.
But it does seem Secretary Jimenez is a big fan. If he can pull off his ambitious plan, that is. That was my main reason for writing … actually two reasons, really.
One to point out that things ‘promised” by year end just are not always going to happen by year’s end,
And more importantly, to remind my fellow foreigners that it is now illegal (seriously illegal) to use the Philippine system.
If the system actually does become legal, will I use it? Probably, at the drug store at least.
But in my personal view,, age-based discount systems ought to be not for seniors but for 20 to 40 or 50yo parents who are raising families. that’s who needs it most.
At any rate, we’ll see what happens at the end of the year, diba?
Dave, Gee, I have a senior discount card, got from Manila mayors office few years ago. I didnt know was illegal for me to have. I have used few times in hotels and travel agencies. Glad you pointed out the law here, will refrain from using in future. Last place in world I want to go is a Philippines jail.
Well that’s why I quoted the actual law and I have written about this before. A few years ago (as short as three years back) it WAS legal for local mayors and other officials to grant this card and it’s use to foreigners. Laws do change, though and the current RA-9994 makes what was legal seriously illegal.
While it’s good to see the DOT considering measures to lure more tourists, this seems to be more of a benefit for retirees, as they would get more long term from it. Not sure it would bring more tourists, but wouldn’t hurt the overall experience for tourists to save a little.
There do seem to be MANY proposals that never see the light of day in the Philippines. If this one does, I wouldn’t mind saving 20%, plus the 12% VAT on food and services once I’m 60.
Would it be a factor in my move? No, of course not, but I’m not opposed to saving a little while on a fixed income.
This will be a hot issue for leftists. I am sure they will argue to improve the system first for local senior citizens before catering to foreigners.