SEN GUINGONA: PASSAGE OF PHILHEALTH FOR SENIORS
AN EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT
HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDERS REFLECT OUR CHARACTER AS A NATION

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III on Tuesday said the passage of Republic Act 10645 which mandates the automatic Philhealth coverage of senior citizens throughout the country is an early Christmas gift to the country's elders.

"It is high time that we give back to our country's elders. In our culture, the condition and situation of a person in his or her advanced age is the reflection of the character of his or her children. How we take care of our senior citizens is also a mirror of our character as a nation," Sen. Guingona said.

Sen. Guingona sponsored the measure as chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography. The senate version of the bill was authored by Senators Ralph Recto, Guingona, Bam Aquino, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Francis Escudero, JV Ejercito, Vicente Sotto III, Sergio Osmena, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Sonny Trillanes, Gregorio Honasan, Manuel Lapid, Bongbong Marcos and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

With the signing of RA 10645, it amends RA No. 994 (The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) and removes the qualification that a senior citizen has to be an indigent before being covered by Philhealth, with premium payments fully subsidized by the national government.

There are roughly 6.1 million senior citizens in the country today; of which, 3.94 million are already covered by Philhealth under classifications such as indigent, sponsored, lifetime members, and dependents. With the signing of the new law, the remaining 2.16 million will now be covered by Philhealth.

"It is the priority of this administration to give social protection services to all Filipinos. Let us start with our seniors," Sen. Guingona said.

He added that with the passage of the mandatory Philhealth coverage for seniors, our country's elders will now feel secure during the remaining years of their lives because of the guarantee that they now have sufficient access to medical and health care once the need arises.

"In their younger years, our elders have worked hard to take care of their respective families and communities. Now it is our turn to return the favor," Sen. Guingona said.