I thank the House for the passage on 2nd reading of the three bills produced by the joint hearings of the Committees on Ways and Means, Senior Citizens, and Disability Affairs.

These hearings produced significant results for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, including: 

1. The expanded basic necessities discount for Senior Citizens from P260 per month to P500 per month;

2. Ease of access in online ride-hailing and delivery platforms like Grab, Angkas, and FoodPanda;

3. A dedicated SC and PWD discount application system for MERALCO;

4. The 40% discount granted by Starbucks for seniors and PWDs;

5. The commitment to 20% additional top-up on RFID load for senior citizen users of SMC Tollways;

6. Free parking slots for senior citizens in major malls;

7. The applicability of the senior citizen discount on top of special price offerings by establishments;

8. Amendments to the implementing guidelines of government programs like TUPAD and Government Internship Program to allow Senior Citizens to be eligible;

9. Expansion of Philhealth benefits packages especially in primary and rehabilitative care for persons-with-disabilities;

10. Allowing an electronic alternative to the booklet system used for availing of senior citizen and PWD discounts.

The Committee hearings, which began January of this year, were conducted at the instruction of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, following reports of inconsistent application of senior citizens and PWD discounts.

The bills will further expand senior citizen and disability benefits, emphasizing that supporting these sectors is a shared duty between the state and society. 

I congratulate my co-chairs, Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes, and Rep. Alfel Bascug, for the very productive discussions. And I thank the sponsors, Representatives Tulfo, Zamora, and Reyes, for their able defense of these measures.

———— MULA SA KAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES, TERENCE MORDENO GRANA, NAG-UULAT PARA SA ARMED FORCE RADIO, BOSES NG KAWAK PILIPINO ————— This is Terence Mordeno Grana, reporting for AFP Community News, One AFP for Stronger Philippines.