As a senior citizen nearing age 90, I commend on behalf of fellow seniors in the Philippine Association of Retired Professionals, Inc. (PARP) the comments and observation that most seniors “are still working and poor,” financially and health-wise, by the former executive director of Popcom, Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III.
It is confusing that while most of the country’s top officials are already seniors, this sector of the aging population is getting scant attention, in spite of the efforts of Senior PartyList Representative Rodolfo M. Ordanes to push legislation for the benefit of seniors.
One example is the bill that seeks to release partially, upon reaching the age of 90 or 95 years old, part of the P100,000 which, under The Centenarian Law, will be given to those who reach age 100 years old. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress but was not approved by the Senate before adjournment, so it was archived.
During the current 19th Congress, 16 congressmen re-filed the bill. Unless the present Congress acts on it, the 16 bills will be like the “dreams brought to the doorsteps of Mona Lisa, where they will lie and die,” as the song says. – Mafeo R. Vibal, Vice President and Legislative Liaison Officer, PARP mafeovibal@gmail.com