MANILA — Senior citizens should be given more social benefits to enjoy the golden years of their lives, lawyer Romy Makalintal said at the weekly Real News Forum held in a restaurant in Quezon City on Tuesday.
Congress should pass a law increasing the level of discounts for senior citizens buying medicines as their age advances further over the years, starting at age 70 with a 30-percent discount, and increasing this by 10 percent every 10 years until the age of 90.
Beyond 90, the discount should be as much as 50 percent, said Makalintal, who is running for senator in next year’s polls.
At present, senior citizens only get a 20-percent discount, plus a 12-percent value added tax (VAT) discount, for a total of 32 percent.
At the same time, Makalintal said senior citizens should be extended the privilege of watching free movies nationwide, instead of only where they live.
He lauded cities and towns that give PHP100,000 cash bonus to senior citizens upon reaching the age of 100.
His proposal is to give PHP100,000 every year for senior citizens who have reached the century mark and beyond while alive, saying this will not drain the coffers of the government since there are only a few senior citizens who are 100 years old and above. (Ben Cal/PNA)
