Senior citizens to get legal aid from PAO

The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) offers free legal assistance to senior citizens who have complaints on establishments that refuse to comply with Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act which grants discounts and benefits to senior citizens.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has received a letter from Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda Acosta of PAO in Quezon City expressing their office’s intent to assist senior citizens on their complaints against violation of RA 9257.

In her letter, Acosta advised DSWD to inform seniors to come to PAO so the office may asses the merits of their complaints and if qualified, may avail of the free legal assistance.

Prior the notice, DSWD wrote PAO early this June to ask for intercession in behalf of seniors who asked for legal assistance regarding their complaints against some drugstores and establishments that allegedly do not comply with giving discounts to those above 60 years old.

RA 9257 grants additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens like 20% discount on transportation, purchasing in stores and availing of services among others. It is an amendment version of RA 7432, otherwise known as “An Act to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to nation building, grant benefits and special privileges.”

DSWD 7 Social Welfare Specialist for Programs for Senior Citizens and Persons with disabilities Shalaine Lucero said most complaints here in Cebu are against pharmacies that do not give discounts, particularly small pharmacies, which alleged that giving the 20% to senior citizens would mean their loss.

Lucero said there are only two major pharmacy outlets nationwide that provide discounts to senior citizens.

She said most of private doctors also don’t give discounts whenever seniors avail their service.

“We are encouraging senior citizens to file a case so this may serve as an example,” said Lucero.

DSWD believes that enforcement of RA 9257 would be best strengthened if anyone would initiate a filing of case so these establishments that are not complying with the law would be warned.

Based on the 2000 National Statistics office survey, there are 319, 000 senior citizens in the whole Region 7 which comprise six percent of the region’s total population. – Jessica Ann Pareja/WAB