House OKs bill expanding seniors' benefits

With 177 affirmative votes and no negative vote, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Wednesday House Bill 11400, or the proposed "Act Expanding the Coverage of the Privileges and Benefits Given to Senior Citizens."

- JOSE RODEL CLAPANO

HB 11400 serves as the substitute bill for 24 individual measures seeking either additional or expanded benefits for the elderly.

Speaker Martin Romualdez cited the key provisions of the bill, which include amendments to Section 3 of the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010" by defining medicines, food supplements, private commercial establishments and parking fees covered as benefits granted to senior citizens.

"It includes online, offline, direct or indirect, first or third-party medium on the 20 percent discount privilege in the purchase of medicines, food supplements and vitamins, health professional fees, golf and country clubs, transport network services and toll fees on skyways, expressways of the senior citizens," Romualdez said.

The measure likewise gives a 15 percent discount on the monthly utilization of electricity and water, provided that the monthly consumption does not exceed 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 50 cubic meters of water.

It also grants an 8.5 percent special discount on the purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities.