Daily Serving of Legal Matters

Great news for all SENIOR CITIZENS.  Pnoy has just recently signed into law for the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens. This law is Republic Act Number 10645. It amended for the purpose R.A. No. 7432 as amended by R.A. No. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”. Accordingly, the government shall provide the following  1.  Additional Government Assistance; and 2. Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage “All senior citizens shall be covered by the national health insurance program of PhilHealth. Funds necessary to ensure the enrollment of all senior citizens not currently covered by any existing category shall be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth from proceeds of Republic Act No. 10351, in accordance with the pertinent laws and regulations”. Note: The photos used herein are taken from Google.

One of the news that sparked my interest was the action taken by lawyer Romulo Macalintal against the five-star Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.  Allegedly, Atty. Macalintal, who is 67 years old, was denied his twenty (20%) percent senior citizen's discount. Who are the persons classified as senior citizens? According to the law, a senior citizen or elderly refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old. What should any senior citizen present in order to avail the privileges granted to them? To avail the privileges provided by law, the senior citizen, or his/her duly authorized representative, may submit as proof of his/her entitled thereto any of the following: (1) an identification card issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) of the place where the senior citizen resides: Provided, That the identification card issued by the particular OSCA shall be honored nationwide; (2) the passport of the senior citizen concerned; and (3) other do...