Press Release
April 29, 2020

Bong Go: protect welfare of senior citizens, particularly access to medicines amid COVID-19 outbreak in the country

Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go appealed to the national government on Wednesday, April 29, to look after the welfare of senior citizens, particularly their access to medicine, amid the health crisis due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

"Delikado ang panahon ngayon. Isa sa mga vulnerable sector ng lipunan ang mga senior citizens at sila rin ang pinakamabilis na mahawaan at magkasakit ng COVID-19," Go said.

"Dapat bigyan natin sila ng kaukulang atensyon at ipatupad nang maayos ang mga batas na naglalayong mapangalagaan ang kanilang kalagayan at kapakanan," he added.

The Senator is pertaining to the implementation of Republic Act No. 9994 or commonly known as "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010" for the welfare of the elderly.

Republic Act No. 9994 states that senior citizens are entitled to the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the purchase of medicines and such other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment to be determined by the Department of Health.

"Siguraduhin natin na magagamit ng mga senior citizens ang kanilang mga benepisyo base sa batas na ito lalong lalo na sa pagbili nila ng medisina na makakatulong na mapanatili ang kanilang maayos na kalusugan, lalo na ngayong may COVID-19," the Senator explained.

The Senator also appealed to the national government, particularly the DOH, to make sure that medicines and other supplements needed by the elderly population are available in all drugstores and establishments.

"Sa health crisis na ito, dapat siguraduhin ng DOH na sapat ang supply ng mga medisina at iba pang supplement, tulad ng vitamins and mineral supplements para mapalakas ang kanilang kalusugan laban sa anumang sakit lalo na ang COVID-19," Go said emphasizing how important it is to strengthen the immune system in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

"We cannot afford to lose lives because of lack of medicines," the Senator also emphasized.

"Siguraduhin din nating abot-kaya ang mga medisina, including yung mga doctor-prescribed vitamins and mineral supplements at iba pang kakailanganing pangkalusugan ng mga senior citizens. Nariyan ang batas na nagsasabing may 20% discount sila kaya sana ay ma-implement ito ng maayos para mabili ng mga seniors natin ang mga pangangailangan nila," Go said.

"Walang trabaho yung iba at hindi ganoon kadami ang resources para mabili ang kanilang pang-araw araw na gastusin. Ipakita natin ang ating malasakit sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay ng kanilang mga benepisyo bilang senior citizens batay sa batas, lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng COVID-19," he added.

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