Senate OKs Magna Carta of the Poor, 3 other bills

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has approved on third and final reading four bills  – the Magna Carta of the Poor, creation of the Senior Citizens Commission,  survivorship benefits children of deceased retired officials of constitutional offices bill and the bill exempting small-scale miners from paying income and excise taxes when selling gold to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Magna Carta of the Poor

On Tuesday, Senate passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2121 or Magna Carta of the Poor which seeks to champion the cause of poor and marginalized Filipinos.

Under the measure, the government must implement systems that ensure that the poor has the right to adequate food and create actions to alleviate hunger among the poor especially during calamities.

Government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA) and then private sector, will ensure that the rights of the poor such as adequate food, decent work, free relevant and quality education, adequate housing, and highest attainable standard of health are maintained.

Seniors’ bill

Senate Bill No. 2159, under Committee Report 552, which established the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), was also approved on third and final reading.

Twelve senators voted in favor of passing the bill which seeks to create a commission to address the concerns of senior citizens.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, sponsor of the bill, said the functions of the commission are to “ensure the full implementation of laws for the elderly; create policies for the promotion and protection of their rights; conduct information and education campaigns to raise awareness of senior citizens’ rights; and represent the Philippines in international functions and forums involving senior citizens.”

Survivorship benefits bill

The Senate also passed on third and final reading the bill which grants survivorship benefits to children of deceased retired officials of constitutional offices.

Senate Bill No. 1917 was approved with 13 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

The measure seeks to amend Republic Act 10084 to extend survivorship benefits to dependent children of an official “who is a solo parent, or the surviving parents, or up to two nominated persons of the deceased retiree who died without issue.”

Miner’s exemption bill

The Senate also approved the that will exempt small-scale miners from paying income and excise taxes when selling gold to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, author and sponsor of the measure, said the bill seeks to amend a requirement from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ”which imposed five percent withholding taxes and two percent excise taxes on the sale of gold to the BSP.” /gsg