NOV.

18, 2014

NR # 3654B

Senior citizens to get additional benefits and privileges

A lawmaker has filed a bill granting additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens aside
from what they are already currently enjoying under Republic Act 7432.
Rep. Mercedes C. Cagas (1st District, Davao del Sur) said under House Bill 5078, senior
citizens would be granted discounts on court fees, vehicle registration fees, real property tax and
Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) renewal fees.
The bill seeks to amend Section 4 of RA 7432 otherwise known as An Act to Maximize the
Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits And Special Privileges And For
Other Purposes, as amended.
Cagas, vice chairperson of the House Committees on Basic Education and Culture and
Tourism, said the provision of free annual physical examination, parking, exemption from colorcoding and no-wait rule in establishments are also meant to ensure their enjoyment and physical
relaxation.
Senior citizens have contributed to our society during the prime of their lives. They have
sacrificed much so that we may now enjoy the fruits of their labor. In any culture, respect for elders
is paramount. This value should be reflected in our laws, Cagas said.
Cagas said while senior citizens have been granted privileges in the past, it is still woefully
inadequate considering the diminishing number of senior citizens and their thinning time left to enjoy
such rewards, hence, this bill seeks to further reward them in their twilight years.
These benefits are very economical ways of rewarding our senior citizens and show to the
world what kind of people the Filipinos are, especially towards their elders, Cagas stressed.
Under the measure, senior citizens shall be entitled to court fees, legal services and attorney
fees in all cases of which they are the respondents or aggrieved parties subject to the guidelines to be
issued by the Supreme Court, vehicle registration fees for those owned by senior citizens, real
property tax and on renewal of PRC license.
Senior citizens shall also be entitled to free medical and dental services, diagnostic and
laboratory tests, but not limited to annual physical examination, cardiac stress test, endoscopy,
ultrasound on kidneys, urethra and bladder, pulmonary function test, including professional fees of
attending physicians in all government health care facilities.
The indigent senior citizens should have preference over non-indigent senior citizens with
regard annual physical examination.
They are also exempted from payment of parking fees in all commercial establishments for
vehicles registered in their names, from color-coding or vehicular traffic reduction programs of the
government for vehicles where senior citizens are passengers and should be accorded the no-wait
rule in all establishments. (30) lvc