(MANILA BULLETIN)

With a vote of 206-0-0 (yes-no-abstain), the House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading Wednesday night, Aug. 9 a bill that seeks to strengthen the government’s national health program for senior citizens. 

House Bill (HB) No.8461 intends to do this through a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to prevent poor nutrition of the elderly and illnesses related to it. 

“This bill is a testament of the commitment of the House of Representatives to support legislations that will improve the lives of the Filipino people, especially our elderly and senior citizens who truly deserve recognition and protection for their years of service to the nation,” Speaker Martin Romualdez, head of the 312-strong House of Representatives, said in a statement following the bill's final approval during plenary session. 

Romualdez said the measure mandates the National Nutrition Council, Department of Health and local government units (LGUs) to prepare a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to serve as guide for senior citizens to nutritionally balanced meals that can prevent conditions related to poor nutrition. 

“This comprehensive program aims to promote and protect the right of senior citizens to health and instill consciousness on the need for their health and proper nutrition," he said. 

The amendment of Republic Act (RA) No. 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act, is being sought by HB No.8461. It was approved on second reading last Aug. 2. 

The proposed legislation also requires the local government units (LGUs), through the Office for the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), to integrate the comprehensive nutrition and wellness program in their respective programs for senior citizens. 

Authoring the bills were Reps. Rodolfo "Ompong" Ordanes, Jane Castro, Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar, Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, Eulogio Rodriguez, Jose Maria Zubiri, Jr., Gabriel Bordado Jr., Salvador A. Pleto, and Romulo "Kid" Peña, Jr.