A joint panel in the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed three bills expanding benefits of senior citizens and persons with disability.
The joint committees on senior citizens, disability affairs, and on ways and means approved three substitute bills to House Bills 10061, 10062, and 10063 during their final hearing, according to Rep. Joey Salceda, co-chair of the joint panel.
The joint hearings were conducted at the instruction of Speaker Ferdinand
Martin G. Romualdez on Jan. 11, following reports of inconsistent application of senior citizens and PWD discounts.
“I congratulate my co-chairs, Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes, and Rep. Alfel Bascug, for the very productive discussions,” Salceda said.
“We have approved three bills today, clarifying that discounts apply even with promo prices, introducing the SC and PWD discount on parking, a 15 percent utilities discount for lifeline consumption, anadditional deduction of 25 percent on labor expenses for PWD and SC, and free training programs for the government,” he said.
During the hearings, Salceda insisted on retaining the additional deductions on labor expenses to encourage the hiring of seniors and persons with disabilities.
“If something is available to the general public, then by definition, it is not a privilege. The point is to ensure that the preferential treatment of PWDs and SC, as a shared responsibility of government and society at large, is preserved.”
Salceda said that, over the course of the discussions, the hearings achieved other milestones.
“We were able to get Starbucks to get a 40 percent discount to compensate for misapplication of the standard discount. We got Grab and Angkas to improve ease of access to SC and PWD discounts. We got MERALCO [Manila Electric Company] to make applying for the discount on electric bills easier,” he pointed out.
“We got DTI, DA, and DOE to expand the SC and PWD discount on basic goods from P260 a month to P500 a month.”
“Based on our calculations, as a result of increased compliance and the expansion of the discount on basic goods, the hearings alone will result in as much as P112.6 billion in more benefits for seniors and PWDs this year alone. This does not account for the bills, yet.”
“From the date the Speaker instructed us to hold hearings, to the approval of the substitute bills, we finished our jobs in 60 days.”
One of the bill’s authors, Deputy Speaker and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo welcomed the passage of the measure at the committee level.
“This legislation goes beyond just creating jobs. It fosters social inclusion, keeps seniors mentally and physically stimulated, and contributes to their financial security,” Tulfo said in his sponsorship remarks prior to the measure’s approval.
“For companies, employing senior citizens can bring stability, loyalty, and wealth of experience to the workplace. Senior citizens often require less training and can serve as mentors to younger colleagues,” the lawmaker added.
Under the bill, senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or be reemployed, shall be provided information and matching services of available opportunities by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the public employment service offices, to enable them to be productive members of society.
“All government agencies and private entities shall institute an employment program that shall promote the general well-being of senior citizens and ensure access to employment opportunities to those who have the qualifications, capacity, and interest to be employed,” the bill said.
Tulfo said, the bill creates a win-win situation for both senior citizens and private companies.
“It also incentivizes companies to hire senior citizens by offering a significant tax reduction — 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries, wages, benefits and training provided to senior citizenemployees,” Tulfo noted.
Meanwhile, lawyer Franklin Quijano, of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) thanked the lawmakers for the said bill saying that some employers are now starting to cooperate even as the bill is still pending before the Congress.