OUR SENIOR citizens are the repository of the country’s history and a living testimony of our people’s legacy. In recognition of their value, it is mandatory for the government to provide measures that will enable senior citizens to enjoy their twilight years.
In the Philippines, senior citizens as defined under Republic Act (RA) No. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”, are those aged 60 years or over. Based on the 2015 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are 7,548,769 senior citizens in the Philippines, or 7.5% of the total population.
The PSA projected that the share of senior citizens to total population will increase to 11.4% by 2030, and to 15.9% by 2045. Moreover, 42.1% of the senior citizens population in 2015 were categorized as gainful workers, 22.3% as pensioners, retired, and disabled, 20.8% as housekeepers, and 14.8% as dependents.
With the increasing number of senior citizens in the country and the decline in their productive capacity that exposes them to various vulnerabilities, the government must guarantee that this sector is not condemned to oblivion. The government must be ready to respond appropriately to the unique challenges and demands they encounter.
Since the adoption of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, several laws have been passed promoting and upholding the rights of our senior citizens, such as: RA No. 7432 or “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation-building”; RA No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” which further amended RA No. 7432 which grants benefits and special privileges to Senior Citizens; and RA No. 10868 or the “Centenarian Act of 2016”.
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QUOTES:
Hon. Roy L. Ogurida, former barangay kagawad, Cutcut, Angeles City, currently senior manager of IMV Corp. Philippines
“Modern heroes requires no capes. We cannot see our enemies, but for sure we can feel it, anxious takes over our mind but still we had our frontliners to take cover for us. Salute every frontliners who been deprived of staying with their family, war demands sacrifices and every sacrifices leads to victory. To all barangay tanods, traffic enforcers, street sweepers, and utility workers, kudos to all of you!”
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Meanwhile, there is a PENDING BILL, the “Free Movies for Senior Citizens Act” (SB No.1517) by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian seeking to provide senior citizens greater support in raising and developing their artistic and cultural awareness, nourishing their souls, and uplifting their spirits in their twilight years. Some local government units in Metro Manila and the provinces have already passed ordinances granting free admission of senior citizens to movie theaters, but this privilege is LIMITED and DISCRETIONARY on the part of the LGUs concerned. Makati is known as the first and most generous city for elders, with its 80,000 registered senior citizens getting the royal treatment. According to former vice-president and mayor Jejomar C. Binay, “It is one of the first cities to give free cakes and implement coding exemption for seniors. Those with an OSCA-issued ID (white card) get the usual 20% senior citizen discount on restaurants, hospitals, and other establishments and having a blue card entitles a senior citizen in Makati to additional benefits like one-time Php 100,000 cash gift on the senior’s 100th birthday in addition to the cash award under the Centenarians Act, for a total of Php 200,000, annual cash gift ranging from Php 3,000 to Php 5,000 depending on age bracket, unlimited free movies at cinemas in Makati, including Greenbelt, Glorietta, Power Plant Mall, Century Mall, Waltermart, and Cash and Carry, birthday cakes and golden wedding anniversary cakes, free medicines and subsidized health care services, vehicle coding exemption in Makati, whether as drivers or passengers, free Lakbay Saya leisure tours (with free food and accommodation for provincial tours), and free admission to cultural and theatrical presentations.”
Senator Gatchalian elaborates that absolute privilege to senior citizens such as fees, charges, and taxes of all kinds shall not be imposed in regular movie theaters around the country and may be availed of by all senior citizens excluding premium establishments such as 3D, 4D, IMAX, or director’s club theaters and cinemas. But the privilege does not cover special events such as sponsored movie premiers, pay per view showing, and other similar movie screenings that cater to special productions. However, the free movie privilege shall be non-transferable and exclusively given to senior citizens upon their personal presentation of a duly issued senior citizens identification (ID) card. Allowing another person to use one’s ID shall result in the revocation of the free movie privilege. Senior citizens shall be entitled once a week to the free movie privilege unless the movie theater where they seek admission to has extended the free movie privilege more than once a week. Every free movie access ticket shall be valid only for a single viewing.
The senator from Valenzuela City explained that local government units (LGUs) in their respective territorial jurisdictions shall ensure the implementation in movie theaters within their localities. Each movie theater shall be required to provide an official monitoring sheet where senior citizens shall register and write their full names, signatures, and Senior Citizens ID numbers every time they avail of the privilege. The LGUs shall require movie theaters to submit such monitoring sheets and other relevant reports as proof of compliance. Any movie theater operator who fails to comply with the provisions shall be meted a fine of twenty thousand pesos (Php 20,000.00) for every violation. “The elderly have so much to offer. They’re our link with history.”- John Cusack
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FEEDBACK: Column entitled, “Booming era of delivery services amid the pandemic”
Bro June Centeno, retired US Navy Master Chief, USA
“Delivery services, both established ones and those that just sprung-up like mushrooms, are the backbone of various peoples needs during the pandemic. And due to the “new normal” way of daily living, they are here to stay and their operations will further grow.”
Bro Arnel Cauguiran, retired US Navy Senior Chief, Japan
“I view the delivery service at a different angle. True, that amidst this pandemic crisis, I am so glad that curbside pick-up and or delivery service is available so when I am craving for Hawaiian Delight pizza. I will simply let my fingers do the dialing. In no time, that I will feast myself at the comfort of my living room while fixated in front of my TV watching JOKOY! One can only argue that at least delivery personnel can earn their living while restriction of movement is being enforced. But for some reason, I see Moral and Ethical issue here, it somewhat makes me feel guilty for making myself much safer using the delivery service being scared to go out and yet I know by doing so I am also transferring the risk to someone else by risking their health when they hit the road just to quench my thirst or satisfy my palate with delectable food. I can only ask myself am I being selfish here? Oh COVID-19, what have you done?”
Bro Miguel Morales, senior pastor, Maui Evangelical Church, Hawaii, USA
“Thanks bro Mark AC Mark AC Sison for this informative article! Reading it brings me home in a sense. Especially loved how you ended it with a positive note… it reminds me that not even a pandemic can stop Filipinos (and Cabalen) from delivering not only “pamangan” but everything and anything that matters. Keep on delivering your writing!”
Juden L. Sarmiento, real estate broker
“Delivery services in any form, proved to be helpful since carrier pigeons were first used. Nowadays, in a truly modern world and under an ever changing setup due to COVID, it is truly needed to speed up access to food (dont forget the pizza industry did it first), parcels, online shopping and even money while at the comforts of your home. It is now a service truly needed and have now evolved and expanded due to the changing times. After all, only one thing is permanent, and that is change.”