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