Monday, April 02, 2007
Arroyo to spend birthday in Baguio
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would likely celebrate her 60th birthday in Baguio City, in an annual religious retreat with her Cabinet members.
This developed as Ermita said he is still waiting for the recommendation of Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. if government would declare a ceasefire with the New People's Army (NPA) during the Holy Week.
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Ermita said the one-day retreat in Baguio City would be attended by most Cabinet members.
On the same day, April 5, Arroyo will turn 60 years old, which according to the Senior Citizens' Law, would qualify her as an "elderly" or "senior citizen."
Ermita said it is up to the President if she would avail of the benefits or privileges of the elderly based on the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (Republic Act 9257).
Ermita, who is in his 70s, said he avails of the senior citizens' 20 percent discount for medicine.
Under RA 9257, senior citizens are entitled to the following:
* A 20-percent discount from hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers, and purchase of medicine in all establishments for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens, including funeral and burial services for the death of senior citizens;
* A minimum of 20 percent discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens;
* Exemption from the payment of individual income taxes, provided, that their annual taxable income does not exceed the poverty level as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) for that year;
* Exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs;
* Free medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not limited to, X-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all government facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(Philhealth);
* A 20-percent discount in medical and dental services, and diagnostic and laboratory fees, including professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in coordination with Philhealth;
* A 20-percent discount in fare for domestic air and sea travel, public railways, skyways and bus fare;
* Educational assistance to pursue post secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, as well as vocational or technical education in both public and private schools through provision of scholarship, grants, financial aid subsidies, including support for books, learning materials, and uniform allowance, to the extent feasible, provided, that senior citizens will meet minimum admission requirement;
* To the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-Ibig;
* Special programs for senior citizens on purchase of basic commodities, subject to the guidelines to be issued for the purpose by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA); and
* The use of express lanes for senior citizens in all commercial and government establishments. (JMR/Sunnex)
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