An elderly survivor evacuated from the disaster zone of typhoon Haiyan is wheeled past a V-22 Osprey on tarmac after arriving on a military plane at Villamor Air Base in Manila November 13, 2013. Philippine officials have been overwhelmed by Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons on record, which tore through the central Philippines on Friday and flattened Tacloban, coastal capital of Leyte province where officials had feared 10,000 people died, many drowning in a tsunami-like wall of seawater. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has filed a measure increasing the monthly stipend of senior citizens from P500 to P1,000.
House Bill 3731, authored by Rep. Anthony del Rosario (1st District, Davao del Norte), also seeks to lower the age of coverage from the present 77 years old to 70 years old.
Del Rosario said the present age requirement is no longer reasonable considering today’s average lifespan of senior citizens.
“The coverage should be lowered so that our elderly will be able to avail of the benefits longer into their twilight years,” Del Rosario said.
The measure amends Republic Act 7432, as amended, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
“The time is ripe to re-visit the provisions embodied in the existing law and uphold the time-honored principle that those who have less in life should have more in law,” Del Rosario stressed.
“It cannot be denied that over the years the prices of commodities have increased and by increasing the senior citizens’ purchasing power, this bill hopes to alleviate the situations of our indigent elderly,” Del Rosario said.
Del Rosario also cited Article XV, Section 4 the 1987 Constitution, which states that the family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.
“The principles enshrined in the Constitution do not only serve to protect the less privileged and the most vulnerable sectors in our society such as the elderly but also affirm their important role in the community as partners in nation-building,” Del Rosario said.(MNS)