Panayam kay National Commission of Senior Citizens Chairperson Atty. Franklin Quijano

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00:00 Four senior citizen bills have been approved in the House of Commons.

00:03 We will discuss this with Atty. Franklin Quijano,

00:07 the Chairman of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.

00:11 Atty. Quijano, good afternoon.

00:13 Good afternoon, Asst. Calvert and Asst. Dale.

00:18 Good afternoon. Welcome, sir.

00:20 First of all, Atty., what can you say about the approval of the third and final reading

00:27 of the four bills for senior citizens and PWDs?

00:31 How much help will this be if there is a law?

00:34 Well, actually, all the seniors are very happy.

00:37 We are very happy. We are celebrating.

00:39 But this is a glass half full.

00:44 Because it still needs to pass through the Senate.

00:47 We are hoping, we are hopeful that the Senate will pass this

00:51 because this amount of bills is like rain.

00:56 When it rains, it pours.

00:58 There are many things that will come to the seniors.

01:02 Wow.

01:03 Sir, what are your reactions to House Bill 103120,

01:08 this Act to Enhance Senior Citizens and PWD Discounts,

01:11 which still gives a 20% discount on tax exemptions for senior citizens and PWDs

01:18 for any promo and discounted products of the establishments.

01:23 Because now, when there is a promo, they don't give discounts anymore.

01:26 Well, our source of happiness is, the Congress said that

01:32 the senior should not be different, the person with disability should be different.

01:37 They should be equal.

01:39 So it's really an attempt to rationalize and equalize.

01:43 On the other hand, one directive is,

01:46 if you have a promo, it doesn't mean that there is no discount.

01:51 It's promo plus discount.

01:53 That's why the seniors are happy here

01:55 because the government's program to assure and support is no longer marginalized.

02:01 Not just the senior citizens, also the persons with disability.

02:05 That's very important, sir.

02:07 Once House Bill 10313 is passed,

02:12 where we will include government services for senior citizens and PWDs in the e-Gov Super App,

02:20 what will be the assistance of NCSC in guiding them in using the app?

02:27 Actually, with the support of Usec Dave Almirol and the whole DICT family,

02:35 we are assured that the digitalization will improve.

02:39 You know, the directive of PBBM that this government should be digitalized.

02:46 This will actually create more ease in doing business.

02:51 That's why we see sooner, in what we discussed with Usec Dave,

02:56 is the digital ID.

03:00 Instead of presenting a paper ID,

03:03 why not just the QR code and all the systems

03:10 that you will know immediately and the transactions are simplified and easy.

03:15 Sir, just a follow-up on the e-Gov app.

03:19 What do you want to change or enhance

03:24 to make this app more user-friendly for senior citizens?

03:28 Actually, our first concern is the primary data.

03:33 Our government has a lot of data and it's not connected.

03:36 That's why this step on approving the DICT move

03:42 is really one thing that brings everyone into the same page.

03:47 Secondly, of course, it will simplify the purchases.

03:50 There will be no need for booklets, etc.

03:54 So, it really will do a lot of things.

03:57 Of course, we need to make all the steps.

04:01 I'm hopeful that DICT, with the help of the other agencies,

04:05 because it's not just DICT, DTA should be there,

04:08 DOH should be there, all the agencies.

04:11 We'll be waiting for that, Atty.

04:13 Especially the booklets, because yes,

04:15 a lot of people usually lose their booklets.

04:17 If it's digital, it's better.

04:19 Atty., with the help of the local governments,

04:23 led by DILG, who are giving protection

04:26 against frauds that target senior citizens in the country,

04:30 the elderly are pitiful,

04:32 what are the programs of NCSC up to now?

04:37 Especially the online scams.

04:39 Actually, we're working on a redress mechanism

04:43 that should have a platform.

04:45 You know, if there's a complaint, you're in the OSCA.

04:48 But that doesn't mean that the national government doesn't know.

04:51 That's why we, ASIC Albert, need to be on the loop.

04:56 If there's a complaint in the OSCA about 20% discount

05:00 or if there are scams like that, we should be on the same page.

05:05 We also made an enforcement platform

05:09 where not only NCSC but also PWD and all are there.

05:15 I hope we'll be able to put a lot of mechanism there.

05:21 Atty. Quijano, what are the amendments

05:25 of this so-called universal social pension

05:28 from the current social pension of senior citizens in the country?

05:32 Actually, social pension in the first definition

05:36 is given to the frail, sickly, with disability

05:40 and with no visible means of support.

05:43 This definition sometimes has subjectivism

05:48 and a lot of people complain, "What about me? I'm also poor."

05:53 But I received 1,800 a month or 2,000 a month from the SSS.

06:00 Even if I'm poor, I have the SSS.

06:03 So this universal pension for senior citizens

06:06 will now bring everyone into the same platform.

06:11 Of course, the indigent senior, the one who has nothing,

06:17 is given by the big ones.

06:19 But the ones who are still in need

06:22 because they are so engaged in the apostolate,

06:25 the care of the grandchildren.

06:27 That's true.

06:28 And they also need respect, they need support and all.

06:34 So this universal pension for the seniors will really address it.

06:39 Atty. Quijano, what you've mentioned is so beautiful.

06:42 My own mother is 78 years old, Christina Domingo.

06:45 What is your message to her and to other seniors

06:49 who are watching us now, our fellow countrymen, our senior citizens?

06:52 Well, Ma'am Christina, it's only been two years.

06:55 [inaudible] longevity gift of 10,000.

06:59 We would like to encourage all seniors to live long.

07:03 [inaudible] 100 years old.

07:07 And we hope you will join us as a deal and I say Albert a booty not to do 100

07:12 years old with longevity.

07:14 You will have a series of gifts coming from government 80,

07:18 10,000 85 10,000 90 10,000.

07:23 So your mom will soon receive 10,000 when she reaches 80 years old.

07:28 [inaudible]

07:33 live long and prosper.

07:34 [inaudible]

07:36 [inaudible]

07:37 attorney, a Franklin, a key Hanno,

07:39 I'm chairman and national commission of senior citizens.

07:42 [inaudible]

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