The Power of Age
By Ma. Isabela Agawin
“What is the wisdom of this law? Because these people who are being taken cared of this law are the people who took care of us when they were still in their productive years.” –Atty. Alvin Calingin
***
Life is too short or may be too fast. Next thing you know, you’ve got wrinkles painted on your face and your legs don’t work like they used to before. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority National Statistical Coordination Board, there is an estimated population of 2, 843, 700 male and female aged 60-64 by 2015, the starting age of retirement, the starting age of the senior citizen revolution.
Republic Act No. 9994 or commonly known as the “Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010” is an act granting additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens, further amending Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, otherwise known as “an act to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to nation building, grant benefits and special privileges for other purposes.”
In simpler terms, the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010 is an updated and upgraded version of the law serving the rights of senior citizens. Compared to Republic Act No. 7432, which was approved back in 1992, RA 9994 further emphasizes and adds benefits for the senior citizens. At the same time, it explains the penalties and punishment for people who do not abide it.
Right for rights
A person can be a Senior Citizen or an Elderly if he/she is aged at least sixty (60) year old. Once a part of the age bracket, he/she can avail the senior citizen card and is entitled medical services, dental services and home health care services. An elderly is also entitled to the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value added tax (VAT).
According to Section 4 (Privileges for the Senior Citizens), paragraph 1 of RA 9994, Senior Citizens have the right to a 20% discount on the purchase of medicines, including the purchase of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, and such other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment to be determined by the Department of Health (DOH). They also have a 20% discount on professional fees of attending physician in private hospitals, on the professional fees of licensed professional health providing home health care services, on medical and dental services.
They are also entitled to a 20% in actual fare for land transportation travel like buses, jeeps, taxis, shuttle services and all other public road transportation vehicles including air and sea travel. Eating in restaurants, staying at hotels, admissions to theaters and other recreational centers including funeral and burial services are also granted to Senior Citizens also with the 20% discount.
Advantage to get advantage
Compared to Republic Act No. 7432 where the elderly were only limited to government assistance as to the paying of taxes, in the Expanded Senior Citizen Act, the government offers assistance to these individuals, which will cover most of their basic commodity needs.
For Senior Citizens who still have the capacity and the will to work or be re-employed can still be employed but will only be given the workload fit for the individual. Senior citizens can still have access to education whether formal or informal depending on the educational programs patterned by the Department of
Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with the consultation with ongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and people’s organization (POs) for Senior Citizens.
For Health, as stated in Section 5, paragraph C in RA 9994, the Department of Health (DOH) along with local government units (LGUs), NGOs and POs for senior citizens, shall institute a national health program and provide an integrated health service for senior citizens.
The government shall also provide housing units and develop a program to assist senior citizens access to public transportation. In line with places for the elderly to stay, the government shall provide incentives to individuals or nongovernment institution caring for or establishing homes, residential communities or retirement villages for them.
There are also additional government assistance provided for the senior citizens; the indigent elderly is entitled to a monthly stipend of Php500.00 and will be covered by PhilHealth if ever they get sick. Also, social safety assistance will be given to them if ever there are calamities.
Seniors speak out
Some of the Senior Citizens are contented with the benefits and privileges they are getting, although sometimes they feel that there are things lacking. Mrs. Lu Ty, 66 years old, have been enjoying the privileges for 6 years already. When asked if she avails all of the benefits offered she replies, “Of course, I would if possible because it is the privilege that is given only to old folks like us, who should be given more consideration because of our weaker condition, generally speaking.”
There are times when she feels that the privileges offered aren’t fair enough for her and the other elderly. “In some places, like in Manila and Cebu, the senior citizens are given cash gifts, aside from the monthly pension, birthday cakes during birthdays, free passes to all movie houses at all times of the week, preferential treatments in all establishments,” she adds. Among all the benefits being offered, she pointed out that she enjoys the 20% discount on medicines and restaurants the most.
Dr. Vic Cinco, 63 years old, is new to all these benefits but is already enjoying what he is getting for 3 years now. “Of course, I am availing the benefits; discounts [for] my medicine, in restaurants and fares, bus, airplane, boat and trains. I also enjoy in priority lane in banks, check-in counters, and other establishments -- as well as free movies on certain days.”
But like Mrs. Ty, Dr. Cinco also has his setbacks in getting his benefits even though he feels like it is enough for him. “I think it’s enough, though there are limitations in groceries like we don’t have discounts in bath soap and toothpaste. Maybe they think we don’t take a bath nor brush our teeth.”
Thorns on roses
“If the government will not take care of them, they will just die. And nobody anymore will work for this government knowing that there is no incentive after retirement,” Atty. Alvin Calingin says. He also pointed out that the law is strict, but many are still unaware of the benefits including violations and penalties.
All of these benefits also come with a price, since life isn’t a bed of roses. It is stated in RA 9994, Section 10 that there are following penalties if a person refuses to honor the senior citizen card issues by the government or violates any provision.
First violation will cause a person to 2-6 years of imprisonment and a fine from Php 50,000.00-100,000.00. The subsequent violation has the same number of years of imprisonment except that the fine will range from Php 100,000.00-200,000.00.
A person who takes advantage of the card even though not the card owner is subject to at least 6 months of imprisonment and a fine ranging from Php50,000.00-100,000.00.
“Kini na balaod kay nag start sa practical reason of taking care of those people who took care of us when we are still young. What is the wisdom of this law? Because these people who are being taken cared of this law are the people who took care of us when they were still in their productive years,” Atty. Calingin added.
RA 9994 further addresses the needs and the rights of the people who served the country through hard work and sweat, an honor and privilege one can achieve in their golden years.
