Panayam kay Chairperson Atty. Franklin Quijano ng National Commission of Senior Citizen
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00:00 Bagong Pilipinas is back!
00:03 500 pesos discount on groceries and other prime commodities of senior citizens.
00:09 We will discuss this with Atty. Franklin Quijano, the chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.
00:17 Atty. Quijano, good afternoon. Welcome back to Bagong Pilipinas.
00:22 Good afternoon, Nina. Good afternoon, Bagong Pilipinas.
00:29 Atty., what is your reaction to the additional 500 pesos discount on groceries and other prime commodities for senior citizens starting this month of March?
00:42 Nina, I would like to thank the National Commission of Senior Citizens,
00:47 especially the seniors, for the quick decision they made regarding the improvement of the threshold.
00:55 Last January, the Congress asked us what else we should do.
01:04 One of the suggestions we brought to the Congress is to increase the threshold because the weekly maximum threshold is 1,300 pesos for each senior citizen.
01:20 If the threshold is 1,300, the discount of 5 percent is only 65 pesos.
01:28 But after several weeks, there were changes through the DTI directive and now, the maximum threshold is 2,500 per week.
01:42 With 2,500 per week, the weekly discount is 125 pesos.
01:49 So the discount of senior citizens will be 500 pesos a month who will buy groceries and basic necessities.
01:59 This is a significant improvement in the benefit.
02:05 So thank you very much for the support of our agency, the DTI and others.
02:13 With this, it will be really meaningful for senior citizens.
02:18 Sir, since March is just around the corner, will this additional discount be beneficial to your monitoring?
02:27 Yes. We need to disseminate information because there are groceries that they may not know about.
02:39 Although the DTI is already issuing their directive, the PTV4 is a big help and a big contributor to your program, information dissemination to the benefit of senior citizens.
02:58 With this update on the benefits, how is your monitoring process here and how are you ensuring the following establishments in this new program?
03:12 Well, the Office of First Instance should be the one to report the discounts. But we are encouraging senior citizens that if they have complaints,
03:25 not only will they be sent discounts, but the National Commission of Senior Citizens should be capifornished so we can help the discounts.
03:34 We have called the mayors and the agencies and groceries to be aware.
03:42 Because of the wide information dissemination, we can follow the distribution of benefits for senior citizens.
03:53 In other news attorney, the Department of Budget and Management approved the addition of regional officers,
04:03 offices and plantilia positions for you in NCSC. What can you say about this?
04:10 Thank you very much DBM. It will go a long way because we will already be able to implement all that is to be transferred to us.
04:23 If you recall, the work in DSWD will be transferred to NCSC. Now, we can say that we are ready because when the regional offices are there,
04:39 NCSC will be able to handle all the work that is being given to them regarding senior citizens.
04:47 Sir regarding the addition of regional offices and plantilia positions in the regions,
04:56 in which places or regions in the country are these additional offices approved?
05:02 Well actually, in Region 2, we need an office. In Region 1, La Union, we need an office. In Region 3, San Fernando, Pampanga, we need an office.
05:19 In Region 5, Legazpi, we need an office. In Region 4B, in Mimoropa, we need an office. In Region 6, Iloilo, we need an office.
05:37 And then in Region 10, Cagayan de Oro, and Region 13, Butuan. These are the offices that we will establish soon as we receive the support coming from DBM.
05:51 Okay. So those offices that will be established in the regional offices, is that the first thing that you need?
05:58 Is there anything else that the offices and people need after that?
06:04 Well actually, it's complete without anything else. We have offices in Baguio, we have offices in NCR, we have offices in 4A, we have offices in Cebu, Tacloban, Pagadian, Marbel and Davao.
06:28 From the amendment of the Centenarian Act and the additional discount on groceries, what other benefits are you suggesting that our senior citizens should be aware of?
06:43 Well, like we said, we are reviewing the benefits and we are calling for a wide consultation because of the discounts and what else should be given to senior citizens.
06:59 We also want to discuss and give. If the legislative process is needed, we will pass it to the Congress. If the guidelines and IRL are needed, we are asking for the help of a joint enforcement platform.
07:19 We are thankful to NINJA because the National Council for Disability Affairs, together with the National Commission of Senior Citizens, is helping DTI, DOH, our DIR,
07:38 and other government agencies to implement the benefits and support that are needed for senior citizens.
07:50 Sir regarding the Centenarian Act that our senior citizens are waiting for, they cannot receive it yet because they need IRR?
08:01 NINJA does not need IRR. The law does not say that NINJA needs IRR. What we will do is we will make guidelines to implement this.
08:17 Of course, we are waiting for the go signal from the DBM on when the money is ready. If the money is ready and there are guidelines, we will distribute the support to 80, 85, 90 and 95.
08:36 At 80, this year, they will receive P10,000. At 85, this year, they will receive P10,000. At 90, this year, they will receive P10,000. At 95, this year, they will receive P10,000.
08:52 Don't forget, we should extend our life because at 100, they will receive P100,000. The P10,000 is not important. What's important is the encouragement.
09:07 We are waiting for the guidelines regarding the cash gift that our senior citizens will receive. So Attorney Franklin Quijano, are you back sir?
09:19 Yes. We are making the guidelines and we are waiting for the budget of the DBM.
09:29 All right. Sir, those guidelines, how long will that take do you think?
09:34 Actually, in a month with the participation of all, because we are calling for the support of all the agencies of the government, we will be able to be ready with the guidelines.
09:49 Also sir, you said this year when you turn 80. So those who turned 80 or who will turn 85 or 90, 95, let's say last year, they are not covered by this.
10:01 They should be covered this year. If they turned 85 last year, this year they will turn 86. So they are not covered because they are 86.
10:15 But if this year they turn 80, 85, 90 and 95, they will be accepted. Even if they cannot be given the money because there's a delay of the DBM or a delay of the guidelines, it will be retroactive.
10:30 So starting January 1, 2024?
10:33 Yes. January 1, 2024 until December 31, 2024, 80, 85, 90, 95 will be covered by the 10,000.
10:45 Thank you very much for your time, Attorney Franklin Quijano, Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.
10:53 Thank you very much, Lina and God bless.