INIHAYAG ni House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo noong Martes na ang House Bill na naglalayong magbigay ng trabaho sa mga senior citizens ay naaprubahan na sa committee level ng Kamara.
Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Tulfo, isa sa mga pangunahing may-akda ng “Employment Opportunities for Senior Citizen and Private Entities’ Incentives Act,” na inaprubahan ang nasabing panukalang batas sa House Committee on Ways and Means na pinamumunuan ni Albay Rep. Joey Salceda.
“This legislation goes beyond just creating jobs. It fosters social inclusion, keeps seniors mentally and physically stimulated, and contributes to their financial security,” ani Tulfo sa kanyang sponsorship remarks.
“For companies, employing senior citizens can bring stability, loyalty, and wealth of experience to the workplace. Senior citizen often requires less training and can serve as mentors to younger colleagues,” dagdag pa niya.
Ayon naman kay Salceda, kung ang naturang bill ay maging batas, magkakaroon ang mga senior citizen ng parehong oportunidad sa empleyo tulad ng PWD.
“It took us 32 years to equalize (this bill). Congratulations to the hardworking senior citizens advocates,” ani Salceda.
Bukod kay Tulfo, kasama sa mga may-akda ng nasabing panukalang batas ang kanyang mga kasamahan mula sa ACT-CIS partylist na sina Reps. Edvic Yap at Jocelyn Tulfo. Kasama rin sina Reps. Eric Yap, Ralph Wendel Tulfo, Rodolfo Ordanes, Eduardo Villanueva, Sittie Shahara Mastura, Florida Robes, Alfred Delos Santos, Stella Luz Quimbo, Paolo Duterte, Ernesto Dionisio Jr., Maria Rachel Arenas, Rosanna Vergara, Salvado Pleyto, Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, Emerson Pascual, Loreto Amante, at Milagros Aquino Magsaysay.
Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, ang mga senior citizen na may kakayahan at nais magtrabaho, o muling magtrabaho, “shall be provided information and matching services of available job opportunities by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the public employment service offices, to enable them to be productive members of society.”
“All government agencies and private entities shall institute an employment program that shall promote the general well-being of senior citizens and ensure access to employment opportunities to those who have the qualifications, capacity, and interest to be employed,” ayon sa bill.
Iginiit din ni Tulfo, na ang bill ay kapwa pakikinabangan ng senior citizen at private companies.
“It also incentivizes companies to hire senior citizens by offering a significant tax reduction — 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries, wages, benefits and training provided to senior citizen employees,” dagdag ni Tulfo.
Samantala, pinasalamatan ni Atty. Franklin Quijano, ng National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) ang mga mambabatas sa mabilis na pagta-trabaho sa naturang bill. Aniya, ilang mga employers ang nagsisimulang makipagtulungan sa kanila kahit na ang batas ay nakasalang pa lamang sa Kongreso.
“Employers are now giving attention to senior citizens. One, of course, is KFC. But obviously, KFC, because the owner became the owner during the time when he was senior citizen. So, he’d like to pay it forward,” ayon kay Quijano.
“ But recently, the two malls approached us, ensured interest, and actually are formulating their policies for employing senior citizens. I’m referring to SM and Robinsons,” ayon pa sa kanya kasabay ng pahayag na ilang gasolinahan na rin ang nagpahayag na gustong makipagtulungan at magbigay ng trabaho sa mga senior citizen.
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