Talisay seniors write to PNoy for assistance

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City's office of senior citizens affairs (OSCA) has appealed to President Aquino to push for the amendment of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act especially the part that provides P500 as social pension to the elderly.

In a one-page letter to Aquino dated March 31, OSCA through its president Romeo Tabañag "suggested" to the president "to propose" to the House of Representatives to make "amendments" in Section 5 (h) (1) of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

Section 5(h)(1) [Social Pension] states that: ""Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred pesos (Php500.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens…"

Although the law grants them those special benefits, the elderly in Talisay City unhappy because not all of them can benefit from it.

Under the same law, only senior citizens aged 77 years old and up can avail of the benefits.

"It is indeed unfair and an injustice for excluding the indigent senior citizens from the age of 60 up to 76 years old without the benefit of a monthly stipend as provided by the law," read OSCA's letter.

Fe Yap, president of Senior Citizens Organization-Poblacion chapter, also finds the provision unfair and pushes for its amendment "as soon as possible as several of our members truly need this kind of assistance at this time."

"Luoy ang ubang mga senior citizens nga pobre, way laing source of income, pero wa kaabot sa 77 anyos. Maayo nalang unta na makatabang ang P500 dungag palit og tambal," she said.

OSCA has10,684 members all over the city, but not all of them are 77 year olds.

Tabañag said since the law also provides that that portion is subject for review every two years by Congress, in consultation with the DSWD, they are hoping that with their letter Aquino would consider.