SEN. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has filed a bill seeking to lower the qualifying age to be legally considered as a senior citizen in the country, from 60 to 56.

He said that the bill is part of his agenda to champion social justice legislation that would benefit many Filipinos, especially “the least, the lost and the last.”

The lawmaker added that Filipinos in this age group have been working for the benefit of their families.

“They are the ones who have contributed to the improvement of our economy. Their contribution could not be quantified,” he said as he highlighted the invaluable contribution of the elderly.

Senate Bill (SB) 1573 aims to amend Republic Act (RA) 7432 that defines a senior citizen as any resident citizen of the

Philippines who is at least 60 years old.

When enacted, all Filipino resident citizens at least 56 years old shall be considered as senior citizens, thereby being entitled to the benefits that are due to them.

According to the data provided by the Department of Health in December 2022, 7.33 percent of Covid-19 cases among Filipino senior citizens resulted in death as compared to 0.76 percent mortality among those ages 18 to 59 years old.

Under existing laws, senior citizens are entitled to the following: 20 percent discount and VAT-exemption on medicines, medical supplies and equipment, transportation fares including land and domestic air and sea travel fares, hotels, restaurants, recreation centers, and other places of leisure such as cinemas; income tax exemption for minimum wage earners; minimum of 5 percent discount on monthly water and electricity bills; exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs; free medical, dental, diagnostic, and laboratory services in all government facilities; provision of express lanes in all commercial and government establishments; and death benefit assistance, among others.

To assure that the elderly will be accorded with more relevant benefits, Revilla also filed SB 1558 As provided in the bill, establishments including, but not limited to, restaurants, libraries, recreational centers, and venue halls shall reserve and designate best possible seats and tables for senior citizens.