Macalintal, Atienza woo elderly with benefits
THE BUHAY Party-list and senatorial candidate Romulo Macalintal will unite to give more benefits to nine million senior citizens in the country.
Macalintal, accompanied by Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay Party-list, said he would author a bill that would give P30,000 to grandparents in their 80s.
An additional P30,000 will be given when they turn 90. Senior citizens who reach 100 years old will receive another P40,000.
Macalintal said if he is elected in the May 2013 midterm elections, he will not forget his promise.
He further said he will author a bill that will give octogenarians a 30-percent discount on medicines; nonagenarians, 40 percent; and centenarians, 50 percent.
Atienza, a former mayor of Manila, said he will make a version of Macalintal’s bills in the House of Representatives and he will increase the amount. That, if his Party-list will win a seat in the Lower House.
Aside from giving the elderly P100,000, the legislators also propose to give them P1 million each year after reaching 100 years.
Atienza and Macalintal, who were in Cebu for a press conference on Wednesday, March 27, said their planned bills will in- spire the children and grandchildren to take care of the senior citizens.
The Buhay Party-list representative said he is in favor of laws that will bring benefits to the people. He is also against reviving the death penalty.