By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
PASIG CITY — Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes is pushing for strict implementation of expanded senior citizen law, Iskolar ng Bayan, and Geriatric Hospital in 20th Congress
In 2020, Ordanes was elected as Senior Citizens Partylist Representative.
He pushed for the increase of senior social pension from P500 to P1,000, which has already become a law.
The Centenarian Act was passed into law in the 19th Congress which provides for an incentive of P10,000 to senior citizens aged 80, 85, 90, and 95 beginning this year.
All seniors were supposed to receive social pension for indigent, frail, or sickly senior citizens.
The implementation of which was not in accordance with the law.
He was pushing for the Universal Senior Social Pension and Geriatric Hospital for Senior Citizens.
He refined them in the 20th Congress which he hopes to be passed into law.
The increase of P1,000 was granted and the additional P1,000 could not be granted as it may affect the fund life of the SSS
Ordanes was thankful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for granting the increase in the pension of retired SSS members.
“Kung ayaw, may dahilan. Kung gusto, may paraan,” Ordanes said.
He is also pushing for the “Iskolar ng Bayan” wherein 1% of the 30% of the special education fund (SEF) of the local government unit will be used to benefit thousands of students which will eventually address the literacy problem.
There will be a local selection committee composed of the religious sector and civil society groups regardless of the grade of the students, which may be tackled in the IRR.
This was also for senior citizens so that they will not anymore be burdened by the expenses for the education of their grandchildren.
Ordanes slammed the “Lakay Aral”, which is not being implemented according to its purpose. He wanted to decrease the unjustified “Lakay Aral”.
Ordanes is the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Senior Citizens.
Ordanes was a former working student himself.
Ordanes authored the law that created the
National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
He said that he was the one filed charges against the former Chairman of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), who was allegedly fond of traveling abroad not related to the NCSC mandate.
Ordanes cited the National Senior Citizens Center.
He is also pushing for the strict implementation of the 20% discount for senior citizens as well as the VAT discount nationwide.
Ordanes stressed that the 10% increase in the SSS pension will start in September this year, another 10% increase next year and another 10% increase on the third year.
Aside from medicines, Ordanes is also pushing for the institutionalization of 20% discount for groceries for senior citizens.
However, only 5% discount is granted for goods and services for senior citizens.
Ordanes noted though that establishments violating the senior citizen discount are not penalized.
Rep. Ordanes was a former City Assessor of Quezon City before he entered politics.
Ordanes admitted that he had kidney transplant, which is already one year now.
He is giving importance to dialysis of senior citizen patients in the sense that he himself had gone through such dialysis procedures.
Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco Vice President & Head Corporate Communications, is fully supportive of the advocacy of the Senior Citizens Party-List, especially in helping the patients of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Zaldarriaga advised the senior citizens to be aware of their creatinine level.
He would not want his children to also experience what he had gone through with his parents. ###
