Press Release
April 29, 2009

Pia leads public hearing on proposals hiking Senior Citizens' benefits

The Committee on Social Justice chaired by Senator Pia S. Cayetano will be tackling several bills focusing on measures seeking to increase social benefits for Senior Citizens in its first public hearing on April 29.

Among the bills to be discussed in today's hearing is the proposal to raise the senior citizen's discount from the current 20 percent to 32 percent. The proposal is meant to negate the price increase brought about by the 12 percent expanded value added tax (E-VAT), which senior citizens' groups argue have effectively reduced the current discount on prices of goods and services to only eight percent.

The lady senator said the committee will be looking at the possibility of increasing the discount to enable our senior citizens cope with the global financial crisis.

Bills to be tackled on Wednesday's hearing are: SB Nos. 851, 2309 & 3061 which focus on Discounts for Senior Citizens, authored by Senators Lapid, Villar and Roxas.

SB Nos. 2919, 2864, 1893, 1996 & 1676 which tackles Hospitalization and Health Benefits for Senior Citizens are authored by Senators Villar, Legarda, Trillanes, and Santiago;

SB. No. 1657 - Financial Benefits for Senior Citizens authored by Sen. Angara;

SB. No. 79 - Exemption from Payment of Real Property Tax by Sen. Legarda

SB. Nos. 2154 & 3153 - Additional Benefits and Privileges for Senior Citizens by Sens. Legarda and Revilla

SB. No. 2373 - Magna Carta for Senior Citizens by Senator Trillanes;

SB. No. 1922 - Maintenance and Support of Elderly Members by Senator Villar;

SB. No. 2389 - Penalizing the Crime of Criminal Neglect of a Vulnerable Elderly Person by Senator Santiago;

Resolution No. 485 - Inquiry on rising cost of living and its adverse effects on pension holders by Senator Legarda.

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