BALANGA CITY- Senior citizens aired on Wednesday what they considered as their major complaint during a day of dances and laughter marking the celebration of Senior Citizens Week at the giant Bataan People’s Center in this city.
Godofredo Serrano, 79, president of the Federation of Senior Citizens in Bataan, asked government to compel all drugstores and big business establishments to grant discounts to the elderly as mandated by the Senior Citizens Law.
Serrano, a retired employee of the National Power Corporation, said that only Mercury Drugs and a few drugstores in the province grant the 20 percent discount. On the 5 percent discount mandated on big retail stores, he said that only a few follow.
“Kakaunti lamang ang sumusunod sa batas na nag-uutos na bigyan ng discount ang mga matatanda na may edad na 60 pataas,” he said.
He also appealed to Congress to pass the law filed by Congressman Arquiza that will grant pensions to senior citizens. Serrano said that P500 a month as a starter will be good enough as monthly assistance for old people.
Marilyn Tigas, provincial social welfare and development officer, said there are 13,000 senior citizens registered with the federation in Bataan. “There are others but not yet registered,” she said.
Gov. Enrique Garcia told the elderly that being 69 years old, he has long been a senior citizen. “Experience is the best teacher,” the governor said.
The Senior Citizens Week celebration has for the theme “ Dangal ng Bayan, Noon at Ngayon.” The elderly in beautiful costumes performed folk dances and some joined in the dance contest for “Tango” and “Cha-Cha”.
Some rendered song numbers, poetry recitation and even a riotous drama presentation. No one seemed to have shown signs of fatigue, rheumatism or high blood pressure, temporarily, during the program that lasted from 8:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon.
Godofredo Serrano, 79, president of the Federation of Senior Citizens in Bataan, asked government to compel all drugstores and big business establishments to grant discounts to the elderly as mandated by the Senior Citizens Law.
Serrano, a retired employee of the National Power Corporation, said that only Mercury Drugs and a few drugstores in the province grant the 20 percent discount. On the 5 percent discount mandated on big retail stores, he said that only a few follow.
“Kakaunti lamang ang sumusunod sa batas na nag-uutos na bigyan ng discount ang mga matatanda na may edad na 60 pataas,” he said.
He also appealed to Congress to pass the law filed by Congressman Arquiza that will grant pensions to senior citizens. Serrano said that P500 a month as a starter will be good enough as monthly assistance for old people.
Marilyn Tigas, provincial social welfare and development officer, said there are 13,000 senior citizens registered with the federation in Bataan. “There are others but not yet registered,” she said.
Gov. Enrique Garcia told the elderly that being 69 years old, he has long been a senior citizen. “Experience is the best teacher,” the governor said.
The Senior Citizens Week celebration has for the theme “ Dangal ng Bayan, Noon at Ngayon.” The elderly in beautiful costumes performed folk dances and some joined in the dance contest for “Tango” and “Cha-Cha”.
Some rendered song numbers, poetry recitation and even a riotous drama presentation. No one seemed to have shown signs of fatigue, rheumatism or high blood pressure, temporarily, during the program that lasted from 8:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon.
