SENIOR Citizen party-List Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes has thanked Speaker Martin Romualdez for manifesting concerns towards the elderly population and persons-with-disability (PWDs).
Ordanes was grateful to the Speaker after his bill seeking to provide universal pension to the seniors and the PWDs was transmitted to the Senate.
Ordanes was also elated over results of the PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.’s PAHAYAG Second Quarter (PQ2-2024) survey showing that nine out of 10 Filipinos are in favor of giving universal pension to senior citizens across the country.
The lawmaker explained that his proposed law aims to provide a monthly pension to all Filipinos age 60 and above, regardless of status.
He said Romualdez was the key reason why the bill successfully hurdled the plenary, along with Reps. LRay Villafuerte, Anthony Horibata, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Nicholas Enciso VIII, Horacio Suansing, Angela Suansing, Gerville Luistro, Marie Bernadette Escudero, Patrick Vargas, Irwin Tieng, Kristine Tutor, Milagros Magsaysay, Christopher de Venecia and Rudolfo Farinas.
"I thanked Speaker Romualdez and my fellow lawmakers for their continued promotion on the welfare of our beloved senior citizens. This bill is only a small recognition of their importance to our society," said Ordanes.
Aside from the universal pension for senior citizens, Ordanes hopes that at least one of his four measures will make its way to the Senate before yearend.
These included House Bill (HB) 10314 that aims to clarify the benefits and privileges of senior citizens and persons with disability, HB 10188 that will give protection to senior citizens against various scams, HB 10313 that aims to include services for seniors to the e-Gov Ph Super App, and HB 10174 that will classify the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health as a National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute.
Ordanes also expressed optimism that the Senate would likewise his bill that will grant early voting rights to senior citizens and PWDs, as well as HB 8461 that will strengthen the national health program for seniors.
