By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
Seldom, if at all, do I write any self-serving piece here in Firing Line. But having reached this age of affinity with the most adorable marginalized sector of society, I feel it is my duty to use this platform to champion the cause of the seniors.
Yes, I am admittedly in the “age of thunders,” and like Thor, I’d like to hammer this point deep into Congress that Senior Citizen Purchase Booklets have become sorely obsolete.
The booklet system may have once served its purpose, but today it only bogs down our seniors. It’s an added hassle for the elderly — who already deal with the aches and pains of age — to remember to bring this booklet to every purchase of essentials or medicines.
Misplace it or leave it at home, and they lose out on discounts that are their legal right. In emergencies, this hassle becomes a true hardship, especially for those in need of urgent medication.
House Bill 10893, introduced by Rep. Gus Tambunting, rightly aims to scrap this outdated system in favor of a more efficient, digital approach. Why cling to a paper-bound relic when we’ve already embraced technology that can simplify lives?
The recent approval of House Bill 10313 is a testament to Congress’s willingness to innovate; it allows seniors and PWDs to carry digital IDs on the eGov PH Super App, where biometric verification ensures security. This same platform could easily host their discount privileges for purchases, eliminating the need for any physical booklet.
Let’s be honest: this isn’t just about convenience; it’s about respecting our seniors and PWDs. Forcing them to carry an unnecessary booklet just to access basic rights isn’t merely inconvenient — it’s undignified.
Technology offers us a way to honor our seniors by making life easier for them, not harder. So, let’s commit to a tech-driven system that matches the times and respects the rights of those who came before us.
Congress, this isn’t just a request. It’s a reminder I and many of you there who know the pains of growing old should take on as your duty. Let’s approve House Bill 10893 and give our elderly and PWDs a solution that respects their dignity and time. Many of us may not be techies in this whole new digital world, but let’s allow ourselves to be beneficiaries of existing tech-driven initiatives that genuinely serve our ends.
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