Former Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said benefits should be given to family members taking care of their elderly parents.
“Since the pandemic began, more and more Filipinos have been caring for their elderly parents. Not only have they lost income, but the oppressive situation under this pandemic places them under enormous emotional strain,” Binay said.
He said family caregivers should be given additional paid leaves, free medicine and hospital care for their loved ones, or reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Those who are unemployed should be given financial and other assistance, he added.
“Those who provide care should also be cared for,” Binay said.
The former vice president said family caregivers have been forced to take more time off from work or have resigned to care full time for their elderly parents. They often pay for medicines and other costs for treatment, line up at drug stores, and bring their parents to doctors or to hospitals.
“The pandemic has made their situation more difficult, but they do this out of love for their parents,” said Binay, who is running for senator in the coming May 9 elections.
If elected, he said he will also help the four million Filipinos who lost their jobs, the over three million families who are experiencing hunger, and the thousands of small businesses who had no choice but to close down during the health crisis brought by coronavirus disease 2019.
Binay is considered as a political icon and the longest serving mayor in Makati. He was the city chief executive from 1986 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010 before serving the country as vice president during the time of the late former President Benigno Aquino III.
He was the first local government official appointed by Aquino’s mother, also the late former President Corazon Aquino after the 1986
EDSA Revolution.