Baguio officials press changes in seniors law

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong ratified city council resolution no. 490, series of 2023, requesting Rep. Mark Go to enact necessary amendments to implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act. No. 9994 and Department of Health (DOH) administrative order no. 2010-0032 issued on October 19, 2010, on the sale of medicines to senior citizens particularly on the mandatory use of a purchase booklet and making it optional when availing medicines and goods.
    RA No. 994 is otherwise known as the ‘Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010’ while the said DOH administrative order contains guidelines and mechanisms to implement the Act’s provisions.
    Meanwhile, the Mayor also signed city council resolution no. 504, series of 2023, requesting the City Budget Office to appropriate funds for ordinance no. 87, series of 2019, other activities and institutionalized events of the Summer Capital, and for the City Administrator’s Office to coordinate such events with various offices or agencies for implementation.
    The approved measure stated that the said ordinance (Institutionalizing every 9th day of August of every year as International Day of the World’s IPs in the City of Baguio) was passed to strengthen the cooperation of indigenous peoples (IPs) groups and non-IPs from the Cordillera region and other parts of the country with regards to their culture, education, health, human rights, environment, and social and economic development.
    Providing financial support for this event, like the other city official activities, will warrant its implementation, the resolution stressed.