Sen. Lito Lapid's gas discounts for elderly thrashed

MANILA, Philippines - A measure authored by Senator Lito Lapid which aims to grant senior citizens a 20 percent discount on gasoline products was trashed by a Senate panel on Wednesday. According to GMA News' 24 Oras report, Lapid said that his concern for the elderly was what prompted him to file the bill which was transmitted in the Senate committee on social justice for deliberation. “Hirap na hirap na ang mga nakatatanda natin kaya dapat bigyan ng priority ‘yan lahat pati sa tax exemption sa gasolina," Lapid said. But when Lapid was asked on how many of the estimated six million elderly owned and can still manage to drive the car. Lapid responded: “83-years-old nakakapag-drive pa yan." He also cited Sen. Joker Arroyo as example. But during the deliberation of his bill, Lapid was not there to defend his proposal. “The grant of 20 percent discount on the sales of gross margin of three percent of price does not seem to be possible. It eats our capital and cause closure of our business," Ruth Marbibi, President of the Federation of Petroleum Dealers. Meanwhile, Salvacion Basiano, member of Coalition of Older Persons, said Lapid’s bill was irrelevant at all. “Bihira naman ang nakatatanda na may sariling kotse so hindi practical para sa amin yun. In fact hindi naman namin masyadong kailangan ‘yan," she said. Basiano said what the senior citizens needs are more discount on medicines and monthly pension of at least P1,000. It said that the current 20 percent medicine discount for the elderly is not enough because of the 12 percent expanded value added tax on medicines. “Siguro ang P1,000 (monthly pension) sufficient na ‘yan maski papano pambili ng gamot ng mga nakatatanda at pambili ng konting bigas na panglugaw," Basinao said. Sen. Loren Legarda said that the committee now will focus on proposal to provide addition medical and health benefits and monthly pension of P1,200 for the elderly. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV