Junior citizens. Who are they?

We have heard much about senior citizens and how the state has been finding ways to extend assistance to them during their twilight years. 

But how about junior citizens? Under House Bill No. 8312, they are Filipino citizens under 12 years old, essentially covering infants and pre-teens. 

The bill was recently filed in the House of Representatives to ensure government support for young Filipinos “especially during their formative years in order for them to grow up into fully equipped adult citizens.”

Under this measure, junior citizens are granted automatic free coverage under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). 
In addition to this mandatory PhilHealth coverage, junior citizens belonging to families with annual incomes of less than ₱250,000 each are entitled to more benefits. They are entitled to free medical and dental services and laboratory fees in government health facilities; enjoy a 20-percent discount and value-added Tax (VAT) exemption on medical plus dental services, and laboratory and professional fees in private hospitals and clinics; entitled to free pediatric vaccinations available at the Department of Health (DOH); and are granted a 20-percent discount and VAT-exemption on the purchases by their parents or guardians of their medicines and milk supplements. 

The bill also states that the 20-percent discount and VAT-free privileges of junior citizens from low-income families also apply to admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, leisure and amusement; and the funeral and burial services for junior citizens who passed away. 

The measure is a welcome move by the House of Representatives. State support for children or the junior citizens is crucial, especially for those belonging to low-income families, as age zero to five years old are their formative years. This is the period where development of their health and well-being is crucial.

“Government support for our young citizens is imperative, especially during their formative years, in order for them to grow up into fully equipped adult citizens...This is especially important to children from disadvantaged areas, where access to healthcare services is low or limited to private institutions,” Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte, the author of the bill, said to explain the importance of the measure.

Investing in human development is necessary for the state as people play key roles in the development of a nation. And there is no better way to do this, but to start at the formative years of a child.

We look forward to the passage of this proposed Junior Citizens’ Act in Congress and its eventual signing into law.

Let’s support and develop our children for the country’s future.