Legazpi City — Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda is set to conclude his nine-year congressional term in June, successfully crafting crucial legislations that notably secured benefit packages and purchase discounts for senior citizens.
Salceda last year chaired the joint House Ways and Means, Senior Citizens (SC), and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) committees that worked on these benefits.
After four-month marathon hearings, the tri-committee secured additional significant discounts for SCs, especially in medicine purchase.
Salceda added that they managed to secure a commitment from PhilHealth for an easier registration system and free coverage of SCs under the Universal Health Care Law, as well as a higher increase in benefits for top causes of death compared to average increase for all other benefits.
Compared to an average benefits increase of about 30 percent to 50 percent for all case rates, the benefits for diseases disproportionately affecting the elderly have significantly increased for the top five common causes of deaths among seniors.
Salceda said it was also clarified that PhilHealth senior discounts are applied before PhilHealth benefits, leading to an additional savings of between 5 percent to 20 percent depending on how large the deduction is.
In addition, Salceda said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has committed to provide SCs dedicated training programs under a memorandum of agreement with the National Commission on Senior Citizens starting February.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) likewise committed to allow SCs employment under the TUPAD program, provided they are fit to work.
Moreover, Salceda said SCs now also enjoy increased discounts on basic goods purchase: from P260 to P500 per month.
Other important benefits for SCs, according to him, are the removal of the booklet requirement for availment of senior discounts on medicines, easier application for senior discounts, and free parking in major malls and other establishments.
