Philippines senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go has urged the Philippines Health Insurance Corporation to develop more benefit packages for the senior citizens of the country.
The Senator who has been a long-time votary of such expanded benefits for senior citizens, reiterated his views during a recent hearing of the parliament’s committee on health and demography during the 20th congress meeting of the Senate.
He said, “Senior citizens are the most vulnerable to illnesses. We all know the difficulties faced by our grandparents due to expensive maintenance medicines.”
Senator Go cited Senate Bill No. 411 that he had authored for the establishment of a senior citizens’ hospital that will serve as the National Specialty Center for Geriatric Health. Senator Go also co-authored the Republic Act 11916 to increase the social pension of indigent senior citizens from PHP500 ($9) to PHP1000 ($18).
He said the 400 to 600 qualified senior citizens, who are still on the waiting list, be given social pensions. He also co-authored and co-sponsored RA 11982 that provides cash gifts for senior citizens reaching 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old.
In June this year the 19th Congress had adjourned without the Senate acting on the proposed measure to expand the social benefits for senior citizens.
At present, only indigent senior citizens are eligible for a PHP1,000 monthly pension under Republic Act 11916. The proposed legislation seeks to expand this coverage to all elderly Filipinos, granting PHP500 per month to those aged 60 to 69, and PHP1,000 monthly to those aged 70 and above.