The House of Representatives has expressed hope that the Senate will prioritize the passage of a bill strengthening the government’s
national health program for senior citizens through a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to prevent poor nutrition of the
elderly and illnesses related to it.
This came after the chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 8461 which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 7432 or the
Senior Citizens Act, as amended, with a vote of 266 to none.
“This bill is a testament to the commitment of the House of Representatives to support legislation that will improve the lives of
the Filipino people, especially our elderly and senior citizens who truly deserve recognition and protection for their years of service to
the nation,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, head of the 312-strong House of Representatives, said.
“This comprehensive program aims to promote and protect the right of senior citizens to health and instill consciousness on the need for
their health and proper nutrition.”
“House Bill 8461 particularly mandates the National Nutrition Council, Department of Health, and local government units (LGUs) to prepare a
comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to serve as a guide for senior citizens to nutritionally balanced meals that can prevent
conditions related to poor nutrition,” Romualdez said.
The proposed legislation also requires the LGUs, through the Office for the Senior Citizens Affairs, to integrate the comprehensive
nutrition and wellness program in their respective programs for senior citizens.
The principal authors of the bill were Reps. Rodolfo Ordanes, Jane Castro, Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar, Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, Eulogio Rodriguez, Jose Maria Zubiri, Jr., Gabriel Bordado Jr., Salvador Pleto, and Romulo Peña, Jr.