Friday, January 12, 2007 Seniors, malls to gain from 'wheelcare': official By Reynaldo G. Navales
MABALACAT -- Pampanga Board Member Tarcicio Halili said the "wheelcare" program he is pushing would be beneficial to both shopping malls and senior citizens.
Halili previously filed proposed Resolution Number 607 requiring shopping malls, business establishments, and government offices to provide wheelchair service units within their respective premises for citizens and the disabled people.
"At present, we seldom see senior citizens who are no longer physically fit to walk and stand for a longer period in any of our huge shopping malls and supermarkets with the exception of a few who can afford to have their own wheelchair," he said.
A preliminary hearing was already made at the Provincial Capitol on Nov. 27, 2006 regarding Halili's proposal. Shopping mall representatives who attended the meeting were receptive of the proposal, according to the official.
"While the program entails extra expenses on the part of the establishments, there will be corresponding increase in sales if the elderly and disabled would be able to visit the malls and buy items they need or something that they really don't need but would be forced to buy if they actually see them," Halili said.
This, he said, is the effect of impulse buying, which may force buyers to buy something based on product labeling and advertisement.
Halili stated that under Republic Act (RA) 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and other laws affecting the disabled, local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to propose and adopt programs that will further cater to the needs of this sector of the society.
The second hearing on Halili's wheelcare program will be held next month, it was learned.
