00:00Here is the PTV news now. The Food and Drug Administration of the FDA is now studying to increase the VAT exemption and to increase the discount under the Create Law.
00:17Today, the FDA officials helped to discuss what was included in the Administrative Order 2024-0017 where the booklet for the discount of senior citizens was not required.
00:32The agency is also considering its possible expansion to Persons with Disabilities or PWD. The FDA hopes that this will make the process easier for transactions and will help especially the poor communities.
00:51The Department of Social Welfare and Development, DSWD is ready to study the guidelines for assistance in the POS Ang Kita o Aka Program.
01:01DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian clarified that this is also in line with the aspirations of the Marcos Administration that it will really go to those who really need benefits and avoid double-doubling assistance.
01:15The DSWD also assured that the program will not be mixed with politics and will go through a thorough examination of the beneficiaries recommended by the DSWD.
01:26In other news, the Social Security System has appealed to legislators to subsidize the additional contribution of the members of the SSS.
01:37The SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph DeClaro explained that this is also in line with the increasing increase in the monthly contribution of the agency.
01:49According to DeClaro, the additional collection will be used in various services, particularly in the distribution of Calamity Loans.
01:57The official also stated that under the Social Security Act of 2018, the contribution rate will increase every two years.
02:07We have a contribution subsidy program.
02:13Maybe our brothers and sisters who request to delay this, can't they subsidize for their members this additional 190 pesos in contribution?
02:30Because more will be affected if we suspend this increase.
02:39Aside from the opportunity of the SSS to help during times of calamity, last year we gave out around 9.8 billion in loans for calamity-stricken areas.
02:55Karina and I think Christine, we were able to help a lot, about 500,000 members.
03:03So if we delay this increase, not only the members will suffer because they don't have an opportunity, but also the capacity of the SSS to help in times of need.
03:20And those are the news for this time.
03:22For more updates, follow us on our social media sites at PTVPH.
03:28I am Allan Francisco for Pabansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
