Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong” Ordanes urged the Senate to pass the bill that would allow early voting for the senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in time for next year’s midterm and local elections.
In an interview, Ordanes emphasized that such a move is essential to help the senior citizens and PWDs amid the long queues in the voting precincts based on past elections, as well as securing them from possible election-related violence in voting precincts in a few parts of the country.
The bill is of those which were already transmitted to the Senate, including a measure that would provide universal pension to the senior citizens.
Ordanes expressed gratitude to House Speaker Martin Romualdez for his all-out support to senior citizens that paved the way to the positive result on a survey conducted by Publicus Asia which stated that nine out of 10 Filipinos are in favor of giving universal pension to senior citizens.
He said the commitment of Romualdez led to the approval of the bill in the House of Representatives. The measure was authored by Ordanes and Reps. LRay Villafuerte, Anthony Horibata, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Nicholas Enciso VIII, Horacio Suansing, Angela Suansing, Gerville Luistro, Marie Bernadette Escudero, Patrick Vargas, Irwin Tieng, Kristine Tutor, Milagros Magsaysay, Christopher de Venecia and Rudy Farinas.
“The goal of this bill is for the government to provide a monthly pension to Filipinos aged 60 and above, regardless of their status in life. We hope that this will be signed into law in the soonest possible time,” said Ordanes.
“I express my gratitude to House Speaker Romualdez and to my fellow lawmakers for their continuous support in ensuring the welfare of our senior citizens. This is in recognition of their contribution to the country,” he added.
Ordanes then expressed optimism that the universal pension for senior citizens proposal would be signed into law, along with four other bills by next year.
The other bills include House Bill 10314 which seeks clear benefits for senior citizens and PWDs, House Bill 10188 which will provide protection to senior citizens against all forms of scams, House Bill 10313 which seeks to include senior citizens in e-Gov Ph Super App, and the House Bill 10174 which designates Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health as National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute.