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| Cong. Ace Barbers |
SURIGAO CITY (Aug. 25) - To help the financial woes of families with a meager income, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers hopes to give “junior citizens” government-sponsored discounts and benefits similar to what millions of senior citizens are now enjoying.
Just recently, Barbers filed the Junior Citizens Act mandating a comprehensive program of privileges for children aged 0 to 12.
“It is unfortunate that legislations and policies underscore minimal consideration on the basic and fundamental needs of our children. How we take care of our children is a reflection of our character as a nation,” he said.
The bill will benefit families with annual income of less than P250, 000.
It will award children 20 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax on purchases of medical services, goods and other privileges.
Barbers emphasized that Filipino children have limited access to basic needs and they are left behind when compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“The ideal is that Filipino families should not be hounded by the amount they spend on their children’s basic food and non-food needs. Enrolling all junior citizens to PhilHealth must be automatic, not optional,” he said.
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