Speaker Prospero C. Nograles has asked the Senate to hasten passage of the House-approved bill “strengthening the grant of benefits and privileges to the Filipino elderly.”
“While we focus on the education and future of our youth, we will not overlook the welfare of our senior citizens. They truly deserve to be cared for,” Nograles said.
HB 6390, which shall be known as the “Comprehensive Senior Citizens Act (CoSCA) of 2009,” recognizes the rights of senior citizens to take their proper place in society and make it a concern of the family, community and government,” Nograles stressed.
Nograles said the 14th Congress, before it bows out next year, will hasten deliberation on various bills intended to benefit the country’s elderly.
House Bill 6390 contains various proposals by lawmakers touching on the different benefits and privileges for long term care for senior citizens, among others.
These exclude House Bill No. 5210, a substitute to 15 similar measures, already approved by both the House and the Senate. The bicameral conference committee was reported to have adopted the Senate version under SB 3392. The bill exempts the sale of medicines and goods and services to senior citizens from the E-VAT.
The House Committee on population chaired by Rep. Reynaldo S. Uy incorporated in HB 6390 the proposed grant of a lump sum death benefit assistance to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased senior citizen under the original HB 2717 authored by Rep. Proceso Alcala of Quezon.
House Bill 1032, which also found its way in the provisions of HB 6390, proposes the imposition of stiffer penalties on pharmacies and drug stores which refuse to honor senior citizen cards issued by the government.
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