Solon files bills for elderly, disabled

CEBU 6th District Rep. Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing filed two House bills that will give priority to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the election period last March 5 in Congress.

These are House Bill 5963 entitled “An Act Providing for Early Voting of Senior Citizens” and HB 5964 entitled “An Act Providing for Early Voting of Persons With Disabilities.”

Quisumbing proposed in his bills that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will coordinate with the local government units, the Department of Health and the Department of Local and Interior Government in designing systems and assistance for senior citizens and PWDS. The Comelec will also designate accessible polling places for senior citizens and PWDs to cast their vote ahead of the regular elections, ensuring that such polling places are provided with the necessary mobility, communication, visual and other forms of assistance for concerned voters.

“During the 2010 national and local elections, many senior citizens and people with disabilities left their polling places because they cannot endure the long lines and lengthy procedures in order to cast their votes,” Quisumbing said.

“I filed HBs 5963 and 5964 to provide for early voting of senior citizens and PWDs for the 2013 elections,” he added.

“We should learn from our past experience and see to it that the proper mechanisms are in place to ensure that our senior citizens and PWDs get assistance in voting,” Quisumbing said.

Comelec Mandaue has announced that a special registration will be held for all the senior citizens and PWDs in Mandaue starting tomorrow, March 10. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA