LEGAZPI CITY — Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda ends his nine-year term in Congress in June this year, successfully crafting vital and game changing legislations, foremost of which are laws that secured package of benefits and purchase discounts for senior citizens, about four million of whom are indigents.
Salceda last year chaired the joint House Ways and Means, Senior Citizens (SC), and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) committees which worked on the benefits. After a stirring four-month marathon hearings, the TriCom secured additional significant discounts for SCs, especially in medicine purchase.
Now acknowledged as the Champion of SCs, Salceda said they also managed to secure a commitment from Philhealth for an easier registration system and free coverage of SCs under the Universal Health Care Law, and a higher increase in benefits for top causes of death compared to average increase for all other benefits.
Compared to an average benefits increase of about 30% to 50% for all case rates, the benefits for diseases disproportionately affecting the elderly have significantly increased for the Top 5 common causes of deaths among seniors: a) Schematic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases (Top 1) — Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or coronary angioplasty at P524,000 from P30,300 or over 1,600% hike; Fibrinolysis at P133,500 from P30,290 or 900% increase;
b) Pneumonia (Top 2) — High risk, P32,000 to P90,000 (181% hike); Moderate risk from P19,500 to P29,250 (50% increase); c) Cerebrovascular disease or stroke (Top 3) – Acute stroke, P28,000 to P76,000 (171% increase), Hemorrhagic stroke, PHP38,000 to PHP80,000 (110% increase);
d) Cancer (Top 4) — Breast cancer from P100,000 to P1.4 million (1300% hike); Diabetes (Top 5), from P4,000 to P6,350 increased per session (58% increase). A CKD5 patient is now entitled to a maximum of P990,600 in financial protection per year, from the previous P624,000/year).
Salceda said it was also clarified that Philhealth senior discounts are applied before Philhealth benefits, leading to an additional savings of between 5 % to 20 %, depending on how large the deduction is.
In addition, Salceda said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has committed to provide SCs dedicated training programs under a memorandum of agreement between TESDA and the National Commission on Senior Citizens, starting February 2025;
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), he added, has also committed to allow SCs employment under TUPAD [Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers] program, provided they are fit to work;
Aside from the foregoing, Salceda said, SCs now also enjoy increased discounts on basic goods purchase — from P260 to P500 per month. SC discounts are on top of promo rates; previously, promo rates were considered as substitute for discounts;
Other important benefits for SCs, Salceda said, are the removal of the booklet requirement for availment of senior discounts on medicines; easier application for senior citizen discounts; and free parking in major malls and other establishments.
Salceda also shared that San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is now studying how to grant tollway discount of 20% to senior citizens, although not required by law;
In addition, major online shopping networks, and online food deliveries are now monitored for strict implementation of SCs 20% discount. SCs may now also avail of TNVS [Transport Network Vehicle Service] discounts by uploading the senior citizens ID card in the TNVS app.
Following is the updated list of VAT-free medicines for SCs (in addition to their 20% discount) under RAs 10963 (TRAIN Law), 11467 (Vape Tax Law) and 11534 (CREATE Act): Medicines for Cancer — Apalutamide 60 mg Film-Coated Tablet Brigatinib (30 mg, 90 mg, 180 mg) Film-Coated Tablets; Dabrafenib (As Mesilate) (50 mg, 75 mg) Capsules, Daratumumab 1,800 mg/15 mL Solution for Injection; ;
Doxorubicin hydrochloride 2 mg/mL (50 mg/25 mL), Pegylated Liposomal Concentrate Solution for Injection for I.V. Infusion, Fluorouracil 50 mg/mL (250 mg/5 mL) Solution For Injection (IV), Gemcitabine (as hydrochloride) 10 mg/mL Solution for Injection for I.V. Infusion (Ready-to-Infuse), Goserelin (as Acetate) (3.6 mg, 10.8 mg) Depot in Pre-Filled Syringe (SC Injection), Irinotecan (as hydrochloride) 20 mg/mL (500 mg/25 mL), Concentrate Solution for Intravenous (I.V.) Infusion;
Leuprorelin Acetate (1.88 mg/mL, 3.75 mg/mL, 11.25 mg/mL); Powder for Prolonged-Release Suspension for Injection (IM/SC); Nilotinib (as hydrochloride dihydrate) (150 mg, 200 mg) Capsules; Ondansetron (as hydrochloride dihydrate) 4 mg/5 mL Syrup; Ondansetron (as hydrochloride) 2 mg/mL Solution For Injection (IM/IV); Pralsetinib 100 mg Capsule, Trifluridine + Tiparicil (as Hydrochloride) (15 mg/6.14 mg, 20 mg/8.19 mg) Film-Coated Tablets;
Medicines for Diabetes — Gemigliptin (as tartrate sesquihydrate) + Metformin hydrochloride 50 mg/1 g Film-Coated Tablet; Insulin Lispro 100 Units/mL Suspension for Injection (SC); Metformin Hydrochloride 1 g Prolonged-Release Tablet; Pioglitazone (as Hydrochloride) + Metformin Hydrochloride (15 mg/500 mg, 30 mg/500 mg) Sustained-Release Tablets;
Medicines for Kidney Disease — Ketoanalogues + Essential Amino Acids 630 mg Film-Coated Tablet; Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions with varying dextrose concentrations; Medicines for Mental Illness — Lurasidone Hydrochloride (40 mg, 80 mg) Film-Coated Tablets, Risperidone (1 mg, 2 mg) Orodispersible Tablets;
Medicines for Tuberculosis — Rifampicin + Isoniazid + Ethambutol Hydrochloride 150 mg/75 mg/300 mg Film-Coated Tablet; Medicines for High Cholesterol — Ezetimibe + Simvastatin (10 mg/10 mg, 10 mg/20 mg, 10 mg/40 mg) Tablet/Oral Tablet; Medicines for Hypertension — Losartan potassium + Amlodipine camsylate (as camsilate) (50 mg/5 mg, 100 mg/5 mg) Film-Coated Tablets.